NYRA/Chelsea Durand
By Sarah Mace
Newly-minted sophomore Flexibility (Bluegrass Cat), separated at last from arch-rival Mohaymen, became a graded winner on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack when he dominated the one mile and 70 yard Grade 3, $200,000 Jerome Stakes from off the pace. The victory landed him in co-third place in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” point standings.
Trained by Chad Brown and sporting the familiar white and red colors of Seth
Klarman’s Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, Flexibility had honed his skills in some pretty tough company in three career starts as a juvenile.
When he broke his maiden on debut on October 10 in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for state-breds at Belmont, Flexibility comfortably handled Spooked Out, who graduated next-out by nine-plus lengths.
Launching straight into stakes competition in his second start, and stretching out to eight and nine furlongs, respectively, in the Grade 2 Remsen and Grade 2 Nashua, he delivered a pair of strong back-to-back runner-up finishes to Mohaymen, an undefeated runner. Arguably the second-best juvenile unveiled in North America in 2015 he is now in training in Florida.
Bet down to 1-2 favoritism for the Jerome by post time, Flexibility was fortunate enough to get out of the gate sharply under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and avoid any collateral damage from Donegal Moon, just to his inside in post three, who fell to his face at the break and unseated his jockey. No apparent harm was done to horse or rider.
After this sharp start, the bay colt was wrangled back into fourth position by Ortiz, five lengths behind a trio of horses who moved up to his outside: Vorticity, who led for the first half-mile through opening fractions of 23.48 and 47.31, pressed hard by 3-1 second choice Bird of Trey and Condo King.
Traveling comfortably in the clear on the backstretch, Flexibility got his first solid cue four wide in the far turn and effortlessly gained the lead.
NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
Once the colt entered the stretch with a narrow advantage, it was all over but the cheering. Flexibility opened up in the stretch under urging and cruised unchallenged to the wire, a 4 1/4-length winner in a final time of 1:42.98. Pacesetter Vorticity stayed well for second, followed across the line by 22-1 longshot, In Equality and Bird of Trey. [VIDEO]
Irad Ortiz reported, “[Flexibility] broke very sharp today, I had to take a hold of him to get him back. I was told they wanted him to rate and save ground. When I asked, he took off and I just wanted him to be able to switch leads in the stretch and finish in the stretch. He did it easy.”
Cherie DeVaux, assistant to winning trainer Chad Brown, followed up: “It’s very exciting to have him continue to perform well going in these races. Hopefully each one he can continue to step up.”
Continued DeVaux, “He’s been professional throughout. He just steps it up each time. It was a very professional effort, sitting behind the speed today and moving on cue. The race set up well for him. He’s always been a big, strong colt who did everything correct.”
As to the future, she said, “Chad [Brown] and the owners will talk about what’s next for him. After following Mohaymen [in the Remsen and Nashua] it was a good feeling to see him get his head in front of the other horses.”
The Jerome is worth ten points in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” standings. Flexibility, who also earned four points as the runner-up in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on November 28, now sits co-third in the rankings (tied with Brody’s Cause and Mor Spirit at 14).
Bred by WinStar Farm. LLC and foaled at Vinery New York at Sugar Maple Farm, the talented colt is the third winner out of Santa Vindi by Vindication, a Kentucky-bred half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner, $2.1 million-earner and successful New York sire Golden Missile (A.P. Indy).
A placed runner in four career starts, Santa Vindi was purchased by WinStar for $60,000 out of the 2010 Keeneland November sale. She has an unnamed 2-year-old daughter by Sidney’s Candy, no foal in 2015 and was bred to Bellamy Road last spring.
Flexibility first sold as an $80,000 yearling at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale in 2014, before being snagged by LRK stable for $185,000 at the Fasig-Tipton select 2-year-old sale last March.
