Listed, $150,000 Jerome Stakes, Aqueduct, Jan. 1, 2022 (10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Courvoisier, by Tapit Trainer: Kelly Breen Jockey: Jose Ortiz Owner: Hill ’n’ Dale Equine Holdings and James Spry Beyer Speed Figure: 73 The regally bred COURVOISIER (he’s out of Eclipse winner Take Charge Brandi) prevailed in his stakes debut while cutting back to a one-turn mile after defeating maidens going two turns in his previous start. He certainly has the pedigree to develop into a top talent, he’s yet to finish out of the money in five starts, he successfully handled an off track here, and his Beyer figures have improved with every race. However, this was his best fig yet, indicating he hasn’t exactly been facing any world-beaters. He’s going to have to come a long ways in coming months. He’s headed in the right direction, albeit slowly. :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analytics, and expert picks. In this race, Courvoisier broke in slightly at the start and bumped SMARTEN UP, then made steady progress outside rivals during the opening quarter-mile to go up and press pacesetting HAGLER. He stayed in that spot around the far turn while being occasionally urged by Ortiz, slowly gained the edge on Hagler passing the furlong grounds, then held safe his rivals. He scores points for being close to a sharp pace and going on with it, but this looks as though it will grade out as one of the weaker Derby preps this season. Smarten Up, who finished second, was bumped by Courvoisier leaving the gate, then dropped back during the opening quarter-mile despite being urged a bit. He fell back to last early on the far turn, with his rider becoming more aggressive, continued in the two path for much of the turn before being angled wide nearing the top of the stretch, then made steady progress through the lane while out in the middle of the track. He never really threatened the winner during a final quarter that took more than 27 seconds. (As a side note, there was a Smarten Up – a son of Smarten - who won the Grade 2 San Rafael at Santa Anita as a 60-1 shot for the late Hall of Fame trainer Laz Barrera in 1985.) COOKE CREEK, who was third, was prominent early while inside and just behind Hagler, then was angled out nearing the far turn to end up stalking the top two from third. He came under an aggressive ride three furlongs out but with no appreciable response, did not change leads until well past the furlong pole, and didn’t put up much of a fight late when Smarten Up ranged up outside him. Meh. UNBRIDLED BOMBER, who was fourth, broke a couple lengths behind his rivals, trailed early, and was outside rivals down the backstretch. He was angled in a bit early on the far turn and made a mild rally between rivals, got through inside near the quarter pole, had to wait a bit behind the tiring Hagler at midstretch, switched out, but lacked much of a punch late. Hagler, who finished fifth, used his unencumbered outside draw to speed to the lead in the opening yards, clearing the field to get to the inside. He set a sharp pace through the first turn six furlongs, led narrowly into the lane, finally began to weaken at midstretch, and faded late. MR JEFFERSON, who was sixth, lacked early speed away from the gate, then was gradually angled toward the rail down the backstretch. He advanced a bit halfway through the race while continuing to save ground, got through inside on the far turn, but never got within hailing distance of the leaders and had nothing to offer the final quarter-mile. OHTWOOHTHREEFIVE, who was seventh, was prominent early while between rivals, was outrun while being taken to the middle of the track nearing the far turn, made a mild move outside Cooke Creek while in the four path on the turn, but was done before reaching the quarter pole and dropped back while drifting out through the lane. This was his first try on dirt after six grass races. An off track didn’t afford him a proper chance to prove himself on dirt, but his turf form isn’t bad and that likely is where he belongs. RUMBLE STRIP RON, who was last of eight, raced just behind the leaders while between rivals in the opening furlong, dropped back while taken to the middle of the track down the backstretch, had no response when two rivals passed him on the inside early on the far turn, and was badly outrun the final three furlongs while drifting wide.