OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The 2-year-olds Cyclone State and Georgia Magic have had their success racing on the front end.
With an eye toward the $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 4 and potentially beyond, the connections of both horses tried teaching their charges something different Friday morning in preparation for the future.
Both Cyclone State and Georgia Magic worked behind horses Friday morning over the Belmont training track. Cyclone State started six lengths behind stablemate Forgone and finished about a length in front while being timed in 1:01.21 for five furlongs by the track clockers. Daily Racing Form timed Cyclone State from the half-mile pole to the wire in 48.38 seconds.
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Meanwhile, Georgia Magic started about five lengths behind a pair of stablemates, came around both in the lane and finished about two in front while going a half-mile in 50.21 seconds, per DRF.
The Belmont training track was not particularly fast Friday morning. Georgia Magic’s time ranked fifth among 151 half-mile works. Cyclone State was the fastest of six works timed for five furlongs.
Cyclone State, trained by Chad Summers, has won his last two starts, both at one mile and both in front-running fashion. Summers believes there could be a lot of pace in the Jerome, also at one mile, and wants his horse to be prepared for a potentially different scenario.
“You got to have a plan A, B, and C, it’s good to have options,” said Summers, who had regular rider Luis Rivera Jr. work the horse. “Were going a mile, most of these horses are stretching out from six furlongs. You got to start looking ahead. You got to start looking to May 3 [Kentucky Derby].
“I think he’s most comfortable in front,” Summers added. “We tried taking him off the pace in Saratoga, he sat a perfect trip and he didn’t finish. Hopefully, he’s maturing and he’s just getting a little better.”
While Cyclone State has run six times, Georgia Magic has run just once, winning a six-furlong maiden race on Nov. 29 by 1 1/4 lengths. Despite Georgia Magic receiving a modest 49 Beyer Speed Figure, trainer Ray Handal was pleased with his son of Good Magic’s race.
“I thought he did everything you could ask a horse to do first time out against a field of well-regarded runners,” Handal said.
Handal further said that he doesn’t view Georgia Magic as a sprinter and believes the added distance is going to help him.
“I also don’t think he wants to be in front either,” Handal said.
Handal said Georgia Magic was tired after the work.
“That was good, I can never get him tired,” Handal said.
Entries for the Jerome close on Sunday. As of Friday, others under consideration for the race include Enduring Spirit, Global Steve, Mansetti, McAfee, and Studlydoright.
The Jerome offers the first five-place finishers qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.
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