Coltandmississippi supplemented to Jerome

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The field for Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct underwent some alterations when it was re-drawn Wednesday after having to be postponed from New Year’s Day due to inclement weather.

Coltand mississippi, beaten favorite in the Smooth Air Stakes last month at Gulfstream Park, was supplemented to the one-turn mile Jerome, which offers 17 qualifying points to its top four finishers (10-4-2-1) toward the May 5 Kentucky Derby. Factor This, a maiden winner here Dec. 17, and Glennwood, a winner for maiden $20,000 claiming at Churchill Downs in September, also were supplemented to the Jerome.

Firenze Fire, the Grade 1 Champagne winner, did enter back and is expected to be a strong favorite in the Jerome.

Honor Up, Millionaire Runner, and Diamond King, winner of the Heft Stakes at Laurel on Dec. 29, did not enter back after having originally been entered in the Jerome.

Coltandmississippi, a son of Pioneerof the Nile trained by Todd Pletcher, won his debut at Saratoga before having a nightmarish trip in the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park, where he finished last of 10. He won a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park West by six lengths Oct. 27 before running fifth as the favorite in the Smooth Air Stakes.

Coltandmississippi drew the rail in the Jerome, the fourth consecutive race he drew that post. Pletcher felt the rail draw compromised Coltandmississippi’s chances in the Smooth Air, where he was bumped soundly at the break and then chased horses before ultimately finishing fifth, 9 1/2 lengths behind the Pletchertrained Bal Harbour.

“He got away poorly, was chasing and always in behind and in between, and was never able to get into a comfortable rhythm,” Pletcher said Wednesday from south Florida.

Pletcher had planned to run in the Mucho Macho Man, but didn’t like the rail draw and scratched him from the race. It was then decided to ship the horse to New York. Pletcher is hoping the fact Coltandmississippi had an uninterrupted training schedule in Florida might offer his horse an advantage over those based in New York, where the tracks at Aqueduct and Belmont Park were closed for four consecutive mornings due to weather.

Coltandmississippi arrived at Belmont on Tuesday.

Coltandmississippi will run in the Jerome with blinkers on for the first time, at the suggestion of John Velazquez, who told Pletcher the colt “could be a little more focused.” Velazquez is at Gulfstream on Saturday, so Trevor McCarthy has picked up the mount.

Firenze Fire will have a new rider in Manny Franco as his regular pilot, Irad Ortiz Jr., is committed to riding at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Seven Trumpets, who shipped up here two weeks ago from south Florida, also will have a new rider – Paco Lopez replaces Robby Albarado, who is at Fair Grounds on Saturday. Seven Trumpets breaks from post 2.

Others entered include Regalian, Old Time Revival, and Smooth B.

My Boy Tate stepping up

My Boy Tate, winner of three consecutive races, will make his stakes debut in Saturday’s inaugural $100,000 Say Florida Sandy Stakes for New Yorkbred male sprinters at seven furlongs.

A gelding by Boys At Tosconova, My Boy Tate has won his last three starts by a combined 20 3/4 lengths, topped by a 9 1/4-length second-level allowance score Dec. 9 going seven furlongs. Following an Aug. 13 maiden win at Saratoga, My Boy Tate kicked a stall wall and bruised a foot. In his last two races, he has earned Beyer Speed Figures of 93 and 95.

“What do you say about his last two starts?” trainer Michelle Nevin said. “He’s dictated the pace himself. I’m really happy that he’s come to hand and improved so well. I think he deserves a shot in the race.”

My Boy Tate drew post 3 in an eight-horse field and will be ridden for the first time by Dylan Davis.

He will face a field of more seasoned rivals, including multiple stakes winner Celtic Chaos and the top three finishers from the Hudson Stakes last fall at Belmont – Ostrolenka, Eye Luv Lulu, and Pat on the Back. Candid Desire, Gold for the King, and Haul Anchor complete the field.

Alex the Terror fatally injured

Alex the Terror, a hardhitting 6-year-old son of Mineshaft, sustained a fractured sesamoid in his left foreleg during a routine gallop Tuesday morning at Belmont Park and had to be euthanized, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Wednesday.

Pletcher had claimed Alex the Terror for $62,500 for owner Mike Repole on Sept. 30. In two subsequent starts, Alex the Terror won a second-level allowance by four lengths and finished second, beaten a neck, in the $125,000 Queens County Stakes.

“That was a tough blow,” Pletcher said of the fatal injury.

Alex the Terror won 8 races from 33 starts and earned $431,164. He was claimed five times in his career for a total of $277,500.

He raced 14 times for trainer John Toscano Jr. for whom he won the Caixa Eletronica, part of New York’s Claiming Crown Championships last April 1.

Audible shipped to Florida

Audible, who likely would have been favored for Monday’s $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes, has left town, is now in south Florida, and will likely be pointed to an open-company race early in February, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

The Damon Runyon, a onemile race for New York-breds, was originally scheduled for Dec. 30, but that card was canceled after the fourth race when the riders expressed dissatisfaction with the Aqueduct main track. Pletcher said that Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm, which owns Audible, wanted to get the horse out of the cold weather in New York.

“He arrived at Palm Beach Downs [on Tuesday] for more reliable training,” Pletcher said.

The Damon Runyon is rescheduled for Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day card and is still likely to draw a sizable field of 3-year-olds led by Battle Station, Jaye Jaye, Evaluator, and Honor Up.