Derby Series 2014 Starts With Jerome S.

Seven colts and one gelding have been entered for the race, led by the 6-5 morning line favorite Noble Moon, a Virginia-bred son of Malibu Moon. Noble Moon will break from the inside post under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and will be carrying 115 pounds.

Noble Moon has been graded-stakes placed

This will be Noble Moon’s third career start and comes on the heels of a third-place showing in the Grade II Nashua Stakes at Aquaeduct two months ago. The winner of that one, Cairo Prince, has since come back to run second in the Grade II Remsen Stakes, beaten late by a nose by Honor Code, one of the future wager favorites for the Kentucky Derby.  Second choice in the ML for the Jerome is Scotland, who is looking for his first win after two consecutive runner-up bids in MSW races.

Lawmaker wants to stay unbeaten

One who finished up the track in both the Nashua and the Remsen, but who has since notched an AOC win at Aqueduct is Master Lightning, who will be coming back on short rest for the Jerome. He’s listed as the 6-1 third choice, but he’ll have to overcome both the outside post and high weight of 119 pounds. At 8-1, Lawmaker has just one race to his credit, but broke his maiden first try, coming three-wide into the stretch to win at a mile. The Jerome is an official Kentucky Derby Champion Series prep race, with Derby qualification points going to the first four finishers.