Gold Square, George Messina and Michael Lee's Cyclone State won his third consecutive one-turn mile at Aqueduct Racetrack in the $150,000 Jerome Stakes Jan. 4, a 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points event for sophomores.
Trained by Chad Summers, the McKinzie bay, similar to his prior two wins, led at each point of call under Luis Rivera Jr., en route to a 3 1/2-length score over the closing Omaha Omaha in a final time of 1:40.82. The performance was more comfortable than the margin of victory shows, as Cyclone State led by eight lengths in the stretch and was a tad green when all alone.
Summers said Cyclone State exited the race in good order.
"He's doing good. He stepped on my foot but otherwise he's doing good," Summers said, with a laugh. "He came out of it good."
Summers said Cyclone State has progressed well, sequentially winning a November maiden special weight, December optional claimer, then the Jerome.
"He just kind of continued the trajectory he's been on over the last several starts. I think there is no doubt that he has some ability and speed," said Summers. "How far he'll go, and everything else like that, we are going to find out. We certainly will not complain about yesterday."
Summers said Cyclone State may next contest the one-mile $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) on Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, while also considering the local one-mile $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) on March 1—a 50-25-15-10-5 points race for the Kentucky Derby. The Big A also offers the 1 1/8-mile $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 1, offering 20-10-6-4-2 points.
"I would think the Saudi Derby is a possibility. He's got 10 points towards the Kentucky Derby, and it is always everybody's dream to head that way, so he will go down to Florida and we'll nominate to everything and see what's what," Summers said. "We know he likes Aqueduct and one mile, and it is 50 points to the winner of the Gotham. We have that in the back of our mind as well.
"He's run seven times already so I'd think he'd be doubtful to run in the Withers, just off this performance and having to go from a mile and an eighth back to one mile," Summers added.
Per feedback of Rivera Jr., Summers believes Cyclone State can take another step forward with increased focus in the lane.
"The first time we ever breezed him out of the gate, he opened up 10 lengths on a horse. Then when the horse came up to him and he heard another horse, he took off again," Summers said. "It is him, it is a learning thing. The fact that he wants to re-engage once he hears the footsteps, it is OK. We don't feel like he's tired, with added distance, we think he'll stretch out and be OK."
Bred in Iowa by H. Allen Poindexter, Cyclone State, out of the grade 3-placed Dominus mare Chanel's Legacy, was a $70,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
