Maryland-based Balboa to run in Jerome
Press Release
December 29, 2025
Balboa cuts back one furlong off a strong third in the Grade 2 Remsen as he looks to go the distance in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome, a one-turn mile for newly-turned sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Jerome is the first Kentucky Derby prep race of 2026 on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit, offering 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers, respectively.
This article contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
Trained by Brittany Russell, Balboa tracked the pace in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen on December 6 here, took over through three-quarters in 1:12.53 and ran on as Paladin and Renegade inched past in the stretch. Balboa’s 3 1/2-length third registered a career and co-field-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure and secured three of the Kentucky Derby qualifying points on offer.
“He’s doing great. I’m excited to bring him back up there,” Russell said. “I think he’s a horse with a little bit of immaturity, both mentally and physically. He works like a good-doing type, but I still think there’s pieces to put together with him and the Remsen was a step in the right direction.”
Balboa [post 4, Manny Franco] entered the Remsen off a win in the six-furlong James F. Lewis III on November 8 at Laurel Park. There, the Not This Time bay was re-equipped with blinkers, dueling through the opening quarter-mile in 22.04 seconds over the muddy and sealed strip before drawing off to win by 5 1/4 lengths.
“That was a really good performance. That was a race to see where we were at with him,” said Russell, who trains Balboa for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. “The waters continue to get deeper, but he has the speed, and I think going from three-quarters to nine furlongs last time was a big ask. He handled it pretty well, I kind of like the cutback for him.”
Balboa, prior to the Lewis, had made his other four starts in California for Hall of Fame-trainer Bob Baffert, including a 7 3/4-length second-out graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs in August at Del Mar. While 1-for-4 on the West Coast, it should be noted that two of Balboa’s defeats came to Grade 1-winner and Breeder’s Cup Juvenile third place-finisher Brant, and the other came at the top-level to Intrepido, who was fifth in the Juvenile.
Bred in Kentucky by Albaugh Family Stables, Balboa, an $875,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the winning War Front mare Tap of War, a full-sister to Grade 1-winner Halladay. His second dam is dual Grade 3-winner Hightap.
Only five horses are entered in the Jerome. The roster includes the Butch Reid-trained Mailata, a Pennsylvania-bred Maximus Mischief colt who won the Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx last out. But Mailata is also entered in Tuesday’s Parx Future Stars, in which he is the 5-2 morning line favorite.
Other Jerome entrants include the Brad Cox-trained Nashua winner My World, debut winner Enforced Agenda, and Freedom’s Echo, a maiden claiming winner trained at Parx by Guadalupe Preciado also cross-entered in the Parx Future Stars.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
LATEST NEWS
