North Slope, Vyjack, Micromanaged in Stymie

A compact but experienced field will go out March 22 in the $100,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, as Evening Attire Stakes winner North Slope looks to fend off Micromanage and Vyjack.

Five runners entered the 1 1/8-mile Stymie, with Turco Bravo and Cousin Stephen rounding out the lineup.

North Slope, a 5-year-old Elusive Quality   gelding, campaigned by Godolphin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, closed with a four-wide move to claim the advantage before drawing away to a 2 1/2-length victory in the Feb. 22 Evening Attire, a 1 1/16-mile event in which Vyjack finished second, Turco Bravo ran third, and Micromanage finished fourth.

Junior Alvarado returns aboard North Slope, who drew the rail and carries 120 pounds.

Vyjack was dropping down to easier company for his season debut in the Evening Attire, after running fifth in the Cigar Mile (gr. I) last November off a victory in the Kelso Handicap (gr. II). Trainer Gustavo Rodriguez will send out the 5-year-old Into Mischief   runner while brother Rudy Rodriguez is serving a suspension. Vyjack drew post 3 under Irad Ortiz Jr. and carries co-highweight of 123 pounds, an assignment he shares with Micromanage.

That rival, a 5-year-old Medaglia d'Oro   runner, looks to bounce back to the winning form that saw him take the Jazil Stakes in January and the Queens County Stakes in December for trainer Todd Pletcher and Mike Repole. He leaves the 2 hole under Manuel Franco.

Cousin Steven, a 4-year-old by Proud Citizen  , steps into stakes company again after back-to-back allowance wins in December and February for trainer Chad Brown, Klaravich Stables, and William Lawrence. 

Turco Bravo, a 6-year-old Caesarion gelding, has been knocking at the door for Winning Move Stable and trainer Gary Contessa, having hit the board in his past three stakes efforts. But the Chilean runner's most recent victory still dates back to last April in his native country.