Tipsheet: 2026 Jerome Stakes

My World wins the Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

A compact field of four sophomores will travel a one-turn mile on the Aqueduct dirt in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome S. The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure.

Jerome Stakes Picks

#3 My World
#4 Balboa
#1 Enforced Agenda

Jerome Stakes Wagers

$20 win #3 My World
$10 exacta box 3-4

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Jerome Stakes Contenders

#1 ENFORCED AGENDA (9-2): The Liam’s Map colt was a sharp debut winner on the oval and at the distance for George Weaver. The gray colt toppled a solid field in his unveiling and will seemingly improve with more experience going forward. Flavien Prat picks up the ride and will have the homebred close to the action from the outset.

#2 FREEDOM’S ECHO (8-1): Parx invader showed vast improvement going a route of ground second time out for trainer Guadalupe Preciado. The bay son of Independence Hall will face a big class hike against this cast, but he will be competitive with any kind of forward move off of his latest venture with Dexter Haddock in the silks.

#3 MY WORLD (7-5): Top pick from the Brad Cox shedrow is two-for-two on the Aqueduct dirt and comes off a decisive victory in the Nashua S. last time out. The $350,000 son of Essential Quality comes in fresh with six morning drills in advance of his third local assignment, and I expect him to press the pace early before edging clear late with Jaime Rodriguez retaining the ride.

Meet the contenders for Saturday's Jerome S. at Aqueduct! 🤩 https://t.co/K4nBlLBm9m
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#4 BALBOA (8-5): The $875,000 Not This Time colt has shown nice progression since coming to the Russell barn. The Kentucky-bred colt was last seen finishing a clear third behind a pair of good ones in the Remsen (G2) in his local debut, and the sophomore might relish the cut back in distance on Saturday. The speedy bay has posted a pair of positive morning drills in preparation for the event and looms large as the potential pacesetter with Manny Franco in the stirrups.

#5: MAILATA (4-1): Will scratch after running away with the Parx Future Stars S. earlier this week.