Vyjack Returns to Stakes Victory in Kelso

By Jerry Bossert

Capitalizing on a good start and perfect ride from jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Vyjack rallied from fourth to take the $400,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. II) by a length over River Rocks at Belmont Park on Sept. 27 .

Odds-on favorite Itsmyluckyday  , coming off a victory in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, lasted to third in the field of seven, beaten 3 1/2 lengths.

Racing fourth early behind the three-way speed duel of River Rocks, Itsmyluckyday and Bradester, Vyjack took command from River Rocks just outside the sixteenth pole to produce the upset at 9-1.

"Today, the key was coming out of the gate," trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. "Today, he broke good. Going a mile, he doesn't have to break as sharp going shorter. Today, he broke well, put himself in a very good position, and the race was good for us. He did what we wanted him to do all along; he's a nice horse."

River Rocks ran the quarter in :23.55 and a half-mile in :45.64 with Itsmyluckyday and Bradester in close pursuit, pushing the hot pace. On the turn for home, Vyjack made his move, circling four wide after three quarters in 1:09.09 before finally wearing down the game River Rocks in the stretch.

Winning for the sixth time from 14 career starts for David Wilkenfeld's Pick Six Racing, the 4-year-old Into Mischief   gelding finished a mile on the dirt in 1:34.05. Earnings from the Kelso purse increased his career total to $902,500.

"When he broke well, he had a good chance," Ortiz said. "In his last couple of races he was missing the start. It's hard to miss the start and beat those horses. You have to break good."

It was the biggest win for the 4-year-old gelding since taking the 2013 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack and his second grade II. He also won the 2013 Jerome (gr. II).

Since the Gotham, Vyjack had just one victory from nine starts, taking an optional claiming race at Aqueduct on April 27 of this year. In his prior start, he finished third in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

"To see him get beat was kind of hard, but he was running against some nice horses," Rodriguez said. "To see him show up today was very, very special. Our main goal had been the Cigar Mile (gr. I) (on Nov. 29), but now I have to talk to the owner and see what his plans are now."

The disappointing finish by Itsmyluckyday has his connections rethinking their plans for the Breeders' Cup, where he was pointing for a start in either the Dirt Mile (gr. I) or the Classic (gr. I).

"I'm going to have to look at the race a little bit harder," said trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. "I don't know what we'll do next. We'll get him back to the barn and see how he is."

Vyjack returned $21.20 to win, $10 to place and $4.20 to show, while River Rocks paid $5.40 and $3.20. Itsmyluckyday returned $2.10 as Scarly Charly, Capo Bastone, Golden Ticket, and Bradester rounded out the order of finish.

Bred by Machmer Hall in Kentucky, Vyjack is out of the Stravinsky mare Life Happened. He was a $100,000 purchase from Pike Racing, agent, at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training. Pike pinhooked him for $45,000 from the Select Sales consignment at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearling sale.