Mr. Buff goes for a three-peat in the Jazil at Aqueduct on Saturday
Mr. Buff goes for a three-peat in the Jazil at Aqueduct on Saturday
By the New York Hot List Staff // Thursday, January 21
The 7-year-old gelding Mr. Buff will try and win the mile and an eighth $100,000 Jazil at Aqueduct on Saturday for the third year in a row. In 2019, he beat Sunny Ridge to win by more than five lengths and, last year, he topped rival Backsideofthemoon who is in today’s field. Mr. Buff has 15 career victories and earnings of more than $1.2 million.
Mr. Buff was second in the Alex M. Robb against New York-breds in December after only a week of rest following the Cigar Mile (G1). Now, he will get more than a month between races heading into the Jazil. Mr. Buff will have to run without Lasix for trainer John Kimmel to adhere to the new policy that does not allow that medication in stakes races at NYRA tracks.
“The horse is doing great,” Kimmel said. “He won’t be running back in a week this time. He’s pretty happy right now and doing well. He’s an older horse running without Lasix for the first time in a long time, so we’ll see if it has really had any effect or not.”
Mr. Buff, who is the 9-5 second choice on the morning line, will be ridden by the Aqueduct leading rider Kendrick Carmouche.
Here are the Hot List picks for the Jazil:
The $100,000 Jazil, Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 3.
3) Tenderfoot (A) is climbing the ladder for trainer Charlie Baker with three impressive wins in a row. A maiden claiming score by 10 was followed by a starter allowance victory and most recently he won an allowance by six lengths going a mile. Each win came with rising speed figures as he will now try stakes company for the first time going nine-furlongs in the Jazil. (5) Backsideofthemoon has won his last two starts since joining the barn of Rudy Rodriguez, which includes a six-length front running effort in the Queens County at the Big A going today’s distance. Last year, Backsideofthemoon was second in this race behind Mr. Buff, but in this rematch, he is the 7-5 morning line favorite. (4) Mr. Buff will try and win the Jazil for the third year in a row. The 7-year-old who has 15 wins in his career was second in his last start against NY-breds but that race came after just a week’s rest. (1) Musical Heart has three place finishes in a row including his last two against Backsideofthemoon.
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