Flexibility should appreciate Jerome class relief

After finishing second to Mohaymen in the Remsen (G2) and Nashua (G2), Flexibility will avoid that quality rival and has an excellent opportunity to record his first stakes victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Jerome (G3) at Aqueduct. The Chad Brown trainee heads a field of nine newly-turned sophomores in the one-mile and 70-yard test on the inner track.

One of the oldest stakes races in North America, the Jerome was originally held in 1866 and serves as a qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby, awarding points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers.

Flexibility, a New York-bred son of Bluegrass Cat, captured his career debut at Belmont Park on October 10 before recording the aforementioned runner-up efforts. Irad Ortiz Jr. picked up the mount in the Remsen and will be back aboard the bay colt.

Remsen fifth-placer Donegal Moon, a runaway Keeneland maiden winner two starts back, will also return for the Jerome. Manny Franco picks up the assignment for Todd Pletcher.

Vorticity will bring momentum into his graded bow, posting a front-running victory the December 5 Marylander at Laurel Park. The James Lawrence-trained son of Distorted Humor broke his maiden two starts back on Aqueduct’s main track.

Bird of Trey, a 7 ¼-length winner of the Pennsylvania Nursery over state-breds on December 5, has earned some nice BRIS Speed ratings in his last couple of starts (100 and 99) and the Birdstone colt is seeking his level for trainer John Servis.

Last-out maiden winners Let Me Go First, In Equality and Silent Assassin are also entered. The status of Condo King and King Kranz is in flux as both are cross-entered to Friday’s Lost at the Fog at six furlongs.

Flexibility finishing second in the Remsen courtesy of Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese Photography