Mr. Buff Looms Large in Stymie Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta
Mr. Buff wins the Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Chester and Mary Broman's New York-bred legend Mr. Buff will attempt to notch his 11th career stakes victory in the Feb. 27 running of the $125,000 Stymie Stakes contested at a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The 7-year-old son of Friend Or Foe has put together a notable résumé, which includes back-to-back wins in the Alex M. Robb at Aqueduct in 2018-19 and Empire Classic at Belmont Park in 2019-20 as well as victories in the 2019 Saginaw Stakes and Evan Shipman Stakes and the 2020 Haynesfield Stakes at the Big A, which he won by an astounding 20 lengths while recording a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
Mr. Buff arrives at the Stymie off a seven-length romp in the nine-furlong Jazil Stakes Jan. 23, which he won for the third straight year in a stellar 2021 bow. The sizable homebred, who sports a 43-16-8-4 lifetime record, has banked $1,295,786 in earnings while boasting a highly consistent 20-9-5-1 ledger at Aqueduct.
Mr. Buff has trained forwardly for conditioner John Kimmel since earning a 102 Beyer for his Jazil score. He has breezed three times over the Belmont training track, most recently a half-mile move in :48 2/5 Feb. 20.
"He's doing fine and even though he's 7 he's acting like he's 3. He's handling everything really well right now," said Kimmel, who won the 2001 Stymie with Windrush.
Kimmel said that Mr. Buff's optimal conditions include the freedom to get into his own rhythm and avoid being forced into speed duels.
"He's got good tactical speed, but the times he's gotten in trouble is when he's been pushed past his comfort zone and intent on going to the lead," Kimmel said. "As he has shown in races past, he has been able to sit behind horses that have shown a little more speed. That's key to this race being an eighth of a mile shorter. There might be a little more pace in there. He's always been a good gate horse. The most important thing is getting him to find his rhythm in the first part of the race."
Jockey Manny Franco will ride Mr. Buff from post 3.
Runnymoore Racing's Alwaysmining ships to New York from Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., for trainer Austin Trites, who saddled the son of Stay Thirsty to a one-mile allowance optional claiming score Jan. 30 at Laurel Park. The 5-year-old was making just his second start off a six-month lay off after previously being trained by Kelly Rubley. Although the gelding has compiled seven stakes wins in his 24-start career, he is yet to reach the winner's circle outside of his Laurel Park home base.
Jorge Vargas Jr. has the mount from post 5.
Michael Dubb's Musical Heart will try and build on stakes black type from his last two efforts for trainer Rob Atras.
The 6-year-old Maclean's Music chestnut was claimed by Atras for $62,500 following a close second to Backsideofthemoon going nine furlongs Nov. 13 over a sloppy and sealed Aqueduct main track. He followed up with a more distant second to his familiar foe in the Queens County Dec.19 before finishing third in the Jazil behind winner Mr. Buff.
Musical Heart will break from post 2 under Dylan Davis.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, February 27, 2021, Race 3Entries: Stymie S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Tintoretto (GER)
Trevor McCarthy
118
Thomas Albertrani
30/1
2
2Musical Heart (KY)
Dylan Davis
118
Rob Atras
2/1
3
3Mr. Buff (NY)
Manuel Franco
122
John C. Kimmel
3/5
4
4Limonite (KY)
Eric Cancel
118
Amira Chichakly
5/1
5
5Alwaysmining (MD)
Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.
122
A. Lands Trites
8/1
