The biggest threat to Overanalyze will likely come from Rudy Rodriguez’s undefeated Grade 2 Jerome winner, Vyjack. Although he hasn’t raced in eight weeks, he’s been training well over Aqueduct’s inner dirt and has a win over this track. One advantage Vyjack has over Overanalyze is post position. Vyjack will break from post 8 and Overanalyze will be on the far outside at post 12. Both colts prefer to be on the lead, but Overanalyze will have to exhaust some energy to get there. Vyjack has one triple-digit Brisnet speed figure on his resume, but will need to continue to progress in order to win. If he’s anything like his trainer, who worked his way up from farmhand to a stakes-winning trainer, he’ll get there—if not Saturday, another day.
Escapefromreality has shown progression in his three lifetime starts. Trainer Dominick Schettino narrowly missed winning the Grade 3 Withers Feb. 2 with this gelded son of Read the Footnotes. Had winner Revolutionary not been able to split horses and get up in time, Escapefromreality would have won the Withers instead of losing it by a neck. It was the second loss by a neck for Escapefromreality which makes one wonder if he has the heart to win.
Siete de Oros is the live longshot in this field. He was beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Revolutionary and Escapefromreality in his last start, the Withers Stakes. He went into that race having come off a loss by a head to Vyjack in the Jerome Stakes. Siete de Oros will likely be on or close to the pace, so he won’t let the leaders get away from him. At odds of 15-1, don't overlook this one.
The field, from the rail out, is Kiaran McLaughlin’s co-entry Transparent and Now And Then, Juan Guerrero’s Champion Boy, Escapefromreality, Mike Trombetta’s Ore Pass, Tim Tullock’s Amerigo Vespucci, Siete de Oros, Vyjack, Kiaran McLaughlin’s Elnaawi, Mark Casse’s Sky Captain, John Terranova’s West Hills Giant, and Overanalyze.
The race is the 10th on Aqueduct’s Saturday card with a scheduled post time of 5:02 p.m. It can be seen on HRTV and TVG. Once again, Brisnet is providing free PPs for this Road to the Kentucky Derby race.
Photo: Courtesy Aqueduct Racetrack/Adam Coglianese
