Balboa looks to go the distance in $150K Jerome

Balboa cuts back one furlong off a strong third in the Grade 2 Remsen as he looks to go the distance in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome, a one-turn mile for newly-turned sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

The Jerome is the first Kentucky Derby prep race of 2026 on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit, offering 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers, respectively.

Trained by Brittany Russell, Balboa tracked the pace in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen on December 6 here, took over through three-quarters in 1:12.53 and ran on as Paladin and Renegade inched past in the stretch. Balboa’s 3 1/2-length third registered a career and co-field-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure and secured three of the Kentucky Derby qualifying points on offer. 

“He’s doing great. I’m excited to bring him back up there,” Russell said. “I think he’s a horse with a little bit of immaturity, both mentally and physically. He works like a good-doing type, but I still think there’s pieces to put together with him and the Remsen was a step in the right direction.”

Balboa [post 4, Manny Franco] entered the Remsen off a win in the six-furlong James F. Lewis III on November 8 at Laurel Park. There, the Not This Time bay was re-equipped with blinkers, dueling through the opening quarter-mile in 22.04 seconds over the muddy and sealed strip before drawing off to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

“That was a really good performance. That was a race to see where we were at with him,” said Russell, who trains Balboa for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. “The waters continue to get deeper, but he has the speed, and I think going from three-quarters to nine furlongs last time was a big ask. He handled it pretty well, I kind of like the cutback for him.”

Balboa, prior to the Lewis, had made his other four starts in California for Hall of Fame-trainer Bob Baffert, including a 7 3/4-length second-out graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs in August at Del Mar. While 1-for-4 on the West Coast, it should be noted that two of Balboa’s defeats came to Grade 1-winner and Breeder’s Cup Juvenile third place-finisher Brant, and the other came at the top-level to Intrepido, who was fifth in the Juvenile. 

Bred in Kentucky by Albaugh Family Stables, Balboa, an $875,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the winning War Front mare Tap of War, a full-sister to Grade 1-winner Halladay. His second dam is dual Grade 3-winner Hightap. 

Cash is King and LC Racing’s Pennsylvania homebred Mailata [post 5, Mychel Sanchez] enters from a pacesetting score in the seven-furlong Pennsylvania Nursery versus fellow state-breds on November 26 at Parx Racing. Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., the Maximus Mischief bay pulled away under returning rider Mychel Sanchez to win by 3 1/2 lengths, earning a career and co-field-best 80 Beyer in victory. 

“He’s already been a two-turn mile, so I don’t think this distance is going to be an issue,” Reid, Jr. said. “He doesn’t need to be on the lead. If there’s some speed in there, he can rate. We expect him to be forwardly placed, but he’ll be able to rate.”

Mailata entered his last race off a third-out graduation going a two-turn mile in October at Parx, where he added blinkers and showed speed under Sanchez en route to a 2 1/2-length victory. 

“The blinkers really sharpened up his speed and helped with his concentration a bit,” Reid, Jr. said. “Early on, he was worried about the other horses a little bit too much. This has really helped his concentration, so he’s able to lay closer without much effort.” 

Mailata is named for the rugby player-turned-Super Bowl Champion Jordan Mailata, who is listed on the Philadelphia Eagles roster at 6’ 8” and 365 pounds. 

“The horse kind of fit the description as a giant guy with a laid back personality. He reminded us of Mailata a bit,” Reid, Jr. said, with a laugh. 

Mailata is cross-entered in the Parx Future Stars on Tuesday and is tabbed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in that seven-furlong test. Reid, Jr. said connections will take a look at both races before deciding where to run. 

Robert V. LaPenta and Madaket Stables’ My World [post 3, Jaime Rodriguez] captured the Listed Nashua last out over course and distance on November 1. Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the Essential Quality gray traveled close-up under returning rider Jaime Rodriguez and edged clear to a 3 1/2-length victory over stakes-winner Probably Dreaming in a final time of 1:37.90. The performance earned a career-best 79 Beyer.

My World improved to 2-for-3 after a stalking second-out graduation sprinting six furlongs on October 4 here. He was fourth on debut at that distance in August at Saratoga Race Course, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by the victorious Big Dom with next-out winner Dr. Kapur landing second.  

Bred in Kentucky by Cove Springs, My World, a $350,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, is out of the Grade 3-placed Into Mischief mare Quebec.

St. Elias Stable’s Kentucky homebred Enforced Agenda [post 1, Flavien Prat] returns to the scene of his winning debut over course and distance on November 23. Trained by George Weaver, the Liam’s Map gray traveled prominently and inched clear to a one-length victory at odds of 23-1 over Felonious. The performance earned a 74 Beyer. 

Enforced Agenda is out of the Tapit mare Heart and Hope, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Cavorting. 

Rounding out the field is Freedom’s Echo [post 2, Dexter Haddock], who dominated his second start last out on November 1 at Parx at the maiden claiming level and is cross-entered in the Parx Future Stars. 

The Jerome is slated as Race 3 on Saturday’s nine-race card, which also features the $150,000 Busanda, a 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifier, in Race 7. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern. 

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