Hagler seeks breakthrough win in $150K Jerome
At 1h18, on January 1, 2022 • By AQUEDUCT
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez is hoping to go on a familiar path through Kentucky Derby prep season in New York with up-and-comer Hagler in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Rodriguez captured the one-turn mile Jerome, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, in 2013 with Vyjack, who subsequently provided the veteran trainer with his first Kentucky Derby starter following a Grade 3 Gotham victory and a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial.
E.V. Racing Stable’s Hagler arrives at his first stakes engagement from consecutive victories at maiden and allowance level. Following a five-month respite, the chestnut son of Tapiture graduated at second asking in October at Belmont Park by 4 ½ lengths traveling 6 ½ furlongs prior to a seven-furlong optional-claiming score at Aqueduct in wire-to-wire fashion seven weeks later.
Hagler will be stretching out for the Jerome, but Rodriguez expressed more concern for the spacing between races.
“I don’t think the distance will be a problem for him. That’s probably his best, or seven eighths,” said Rodriguez. “Right now is the time to see what we got. Since Day One he’s shown a lot of promise and is proving us right. He’s done everything right, but time wise it’s a little bit rushed.”
Jorge Vargas, Jr., the pilot in both of Hagler’s two career wins, will retain the mount from post 8.
