Vyjack, Micromanage Line Up in Stymie

The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained North Slope will go in search of back-to-back victories at Aqueduct Racetrack when he contests Sunday's $100,000 Stymie at 1 1/8 miles for older horses.

After enjoying modest success in 2014 while alternating between dirt and turf racing, North Slope has seemed to find a home on the Big A's inner track. Making his 2015 debut in the Evening Attire on February 22 at Aqueduct, the 5-year-old gelding stalked the pace and drew off to a 2 ½-length score, for which he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 100.

"He came up from Florida [for the Stymie] doing very well," said Art Magnuson, assistant to McLaughlin. "You never know why they run so well on a given day; I just hope he can do it again. He's doing great. We gave him an easy breeze the other day to stretch his legs and we couldn't be any happier with him."

Breaking from the rail with Junior Alvarado aboard, North Slope sits at 3-1 on the morning line.

In addition to North Slope, a field of salty older runners has signed on for the Stymie, including multiple graded stakes winner Vyjack and the Todd Pletcher-trained Micromanage.

Vyjack first rose to prominence on the 2013 Kentucky Derby trail, when he took the Grade 2 Jerome and Grade 3 Gotham before finishing third in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial behind Verrazano. After his sophomore campaign was cut short following a distant sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Haskell, the Into Mischief gelding made a successful return to the races last April at the Big A before being thrust into a series of tough spots in 2014.

A mixed bag of results ultimately gave way to a breakthrough victory, which came in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap on Super Saturday, September 27, at Belmont Park. Settling off the early pace in fourth, Vyjack swept past the field around the far turn and on to a one-length decision, defeating Grade 1 Woodward winner Itsmyluckyday in the process.

After finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap in his subsequent start, the Pick Six Racing color-bearer rebounded with a solid second-place finish in the Queens County on December 13 at Aqueduct.

Trained by Gustavo Rodriguez, Vyjack is listed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite, and will depart from post 3 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons.

Going out for Repole Stable, Micromanage has already made his mark on winter racing at the Big A, winning the Queens County and Jazil and finishing fourth in the Evening Attire. The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro also captured the Grade 3 Skip Away and the Birdstone during his 2014 campaign.

Manuel Franco will be aboard Micromanage, 2-1 on the morning line, and the duo will leave from post 2.

Cousin Stephen, who is coming off a pair of open-length victories at Parx Racing for trainer Chad Brown, and Turco Bravo, third in the Evening Attire, complete the field.

The field for the $100,000 Stymie:

Source: NYRA Communications