Short Jerome Field Looks Wide Open

The six-horse field for the $150,000 Jerome Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park looks wide open with Burning Roma, Scorpion, and Hero's Tribute all looking to add to their win column.

Burning Roma has been freshened up since his third-place finish in the grade I Haskell. Prior to the Haskell, he won the Sir Barton, Leonard Richards, and Long Beach Breeders' Cup.

Jim Dandy winner Scorpion ran sixth in the Travers (gr. I), beaten 15 lengths. He raced close to the lead in the Travers before backing up to last.

If the plane carrying Beautiful Pleasure doesn't make it from Kentucky to New York, don't expect to see Hero's Tribute. The John T. Ward Jr., trainee defeated E Dubai over a sloppy track in the Peter Pan (gr. I) but fell to the same runner in the Dwyer (gr. I).

The field for the $150,000 Jerome includes: Express Tour (John Velazquez, 115); Illusioned (Pat Day, 117); Hero's Tribute (Jorge Chavez, 117); Iron Mask (Gary Stevens, 116); Scorpion (Jerry Bailey, 118); and Burning Roma (Rick Wilson, 120).