Our first choice is #4 Balboa. He is the only participant with experience competing against the ranking competition. Tackling an ungraded stake like the Jerome should help Balboa visit the winner’s circle.
Balboa was last seen on Dec. 6 competing in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, a major Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier at Aqueduct. In that race he set a fast pace in second place and took over the lead at one point before weakening and finishing third. He crossed the line just 3.5 lengths behind Paladin, a highly ranked Kentucky Derby prospect ranked second in America’s Best Racing’s latest Rookie Rankings for 2025.
The Remsen took place over 1 1/8 miles around two turns, which may be a little further than Balboa wants to run. He has shown fine form in sprints, most notably recording a 5 ¼ length victory in the James F. Lewis III Stakes over three-quarters of a mile at Laurel Park.
The Jerome is not a sprint, but the one-mile distance is contested around one corner. Single-turn miles can feel more like drawn-out sprints than true route races, so Balboa thinks he can enjoy the Jerome setup and possibly deliver his best performance yet.
Beyond Balboa, #3 My world And #1 Enforced agenda are logical contenders.
My World scored an impressive victory in the one-mile Nashua Stakes on November 1 at Aqueduct. He was always close to the pace, and in the final furlong he accelerated to pull away from the dual stakes winner, Probably Dreaming, and win by 3 ½ lengths.
On the Enforced Agenda side, he won his debut in a first one-mile special weight race on November 23 at Aqueduct. He raced a little green down the homestretch, but gradually moved away to win by one length, looking as if he still had something in reserve. For the Jerome, he picks up jockey Flavien Prat, who earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey of 2024.
We recommend betting Balboa on exacta and trifecta tickets using My World and Enforced Agenda for second and third place. If we can correctly predict the top three finishers in order, we will cash in on a nice payday.
Betting strategy with a $10 budget
$5 exacta: 4 by 1.3 (total cost: $10)
What to say at the gambling window: Aqueduct, 3rd race, $5 exacta 4 with 1.3
Betting strategy with a $30 budget
$10 exacta: 4 by 1.3 (total cost: $20)
What to say at the gambling window: Aqueduct, 3rd race, $10 exacta 4 with 1.3
$5 trifecta: 4 by 1.3 by 1.3 (total cost: $10)
What to say at the gambling window: Aqueduct, 3rd race, $5 trifecta 4 by 1.3 by 1.3
Good luck and enjoy the race!
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