Cyclone State carries speed to convincing Jerome win

Jan 04, 2025 James Scully

Cyclone State showed speed from the start and joined the Kentucky Derby trail with a dominant win in the Jerome S. at Aqueduct, picking up 10 points in his stakes debut. Trained by Chad Summers, the newly turned three-year-old registered his third straight victory when completing a one-turn mile in 1:40.82.

Luis Rivera was up on Cyclone State, who led by a head after the opening quarter-mile and opened up significantly on the far turn, reaching the top of the stretch with an eight-length advantage. Cyclone State left the starting gate as the 3-1 third choice among seven rivals in the Road the Kentucky Derby series qualifier.

Omaha Omaha rallied from last to be a non-threatening second, earning five points toward a Kentucky Derby berth in his first stakes appearance. Ican wound up another 3 1/4 lengths back in third, a head better than 9-5 favorite Studlydoright, and it was a big gap back to Mansetti in fifth. The Jerome awarded points on a 5-3-2-1 scale to second-through-fifth.

Cyclone State wins the Jerome S. at Aqueduct and picks up 10 @KentuckyDerby points! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/kaRMUTTy22

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 4, 2025

Georgia Magic and Enduring Spirit completed the order of finish.

An Iowa-bred son of McKinzie, Cyclone State has raced exclusively in New York and needed five starts before breaking his maiden convincingly in early November. The bay colt followed with another easy tally over entry-level allowance tally on Dec. 6, leading wire-to-wire over a one-turn mile distance in both starts.

Bred by H. Allen Poindexter, Cyclone State sold for $70,000 as a yearling as the 2023 Keeneland sale and is out of the multiple stakes-winning Chanel’s Legacy, a daughter of Dominus.

Cyclone State is campaigned by Gold Square, George Messina, and Michael Lee.