1/3/2026

  2   AQU    The Jerome [KYD]     

$150.000    3YO   1m  Dirt      122lbs +penalties                             

It’s not graded, but The Jerome carries the all-important KYD points, so the gate is full, and we have a nice group of freshly made 3yo’s set to go a flat mile on the Gotham main track. 

As expected, we have a bunch of up-and-coming types, trying to find out what the ’26 season has in store for them, and Meekshallinherit is the only multiple race winning entry… with that, he is my top selections today.  Three in a row as he broke maiden at FE, won a minor stakes in the Tin Cup at FL, then took the Inaugural at TAM, those stakes wins were both on wet tracks.  It looks like Big Jd Racing has a nice one in this gray gelding.

Mb Stables has been a bit absent, I’m sure the new assistant trainer and the first holiday season played into that, a bit… so let’s give Hide In Plain Sight a stiff look.  He hasn’t missed a check since the Vet made the major alteration(s) to his attitude, although he was a beaten favorite in three of his last four starts.  Still, he looked good when third in the TAA Stakes on the DMR sod.  I think the move back to the main track will make this one happy. 

I’m rolling with a duo of picks and the Green Card, who has been super-hot, sees things a bit different than I do.  We shall see. 

Here’s The Field –

COZMAN Picks  10 / 8      Willie’s Green Card  8 / 11 / 3

  3   AQU    The Busanda [KYO]

$150.000    3YOF   1 1/8m  Dirt      122lbs +penalties                 

If it’s good for the boys… you know the rest.  So, let’s peak into the field for The Busanda, a mile and an eighth test for the new sophomore class of fillies, and I’m going to be heavy on a single in this race.

Madame Masque looks the one to me, showing a runner up effort at DMR and CD vs. stakes company, then closed fast to be third in the Golden Rod (GII) in her most recent effort, again, at CD.  The distance seems to be calling her name, and I think she handles this in good fashion.  The Card sees it a bit different, so, bet accordingly as they have been hot of late.  

Here’s The Field –

COZMAN Picks  6      Willie’s Green Card  7 / 6 / 1

  5   SA    Santa Ynez Stakes [KYO]

$150.000    3YOF   7F  Dirt      121lbs +penalties                     

We head out to the left coast for my KYO points action, and look at the field for the Santa Ynez Stakes, a seven-furlong test for the three-year-old fillies.  Again, my picks are short and chalky, but we aren’t here to guess. 

I look for Boardwalk Princess to keep her hot hand going… she’s got a three-race win skein and that win at DMR got this barn a stakes victory that edges her to the top spot, in my eye.  That DMR win was at today’s distance, and she once again used her late turn of foot to kick clear late.  More of the same, please.

Let’s go to the far outside and put Amy Street in the second spot.  That one, a three-time winner, and has back-to-back runner-up efforts vs. stakes company, first vs WV Breds in the Casey Memorial at CT, then on a damp track at TAM in the Sandpiper.  She looks versatile, showing speed in some races, but has also come from off the pace.  

Here’s The Field –

COZMAN Picks  8 / 10       Willie’s Green Card   10 / 7 / 9

  1   OP    The Smarty Jones [KYD]

$250.000    3YO    1 1/16m Dirt      121lbs                       

To the paperclip that is OP… more like Martinsville Speedway, but I digress.  We look at the field for The Smarty Jones and this is a track that I have no love for… so, with that, we will let the Card do all of the heavy lifting.

They go with Flop from the Mb Stable juggernaut… can you blame anyone for that?  He has the speed, never been worse than second and comes in with back-to-back stakes scores at WO, one of those at a mile and an eighth.  This is a powerful stable and this looks like a horse that is just starting to find his best stride. 

When last scene, Benevento was the runner up in the BC Juv Turf (GI), but don’t be fooled… this horse has two main track wins, as well.  This certainly seems to be a shot at the TC Trail… if it fails, back to the weeds where he is one wicked type. 

Liams Map is another that has shown a purpose while running with top-flight competition.  Third, last out, in the KY Jockey Club (GII) and he won the Tremont at SAR, back in June.  Third start on Lasix, which has proven to be a secret in the Green Cards choices, of late, so he’s a horse to watch.  

Here’s The Field –  

COZMAN Picks  N/A      Willie’s Green Card   4 / 3 / 10

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, THE TRIPLE CROWN, Ungraded