My World extends win streak to three, picks up first Derby points in Jerome

Jan 03, 2026 James Scully

My World wins the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Susie Raisher)

A convincing winner of the Nashua S. in early November, My World was put to the test in Saturday’s $139,500 Jerome S. but ultimately proved best, driving past Balboa in to earn his first points toward a Kentucky Derby (G1) berth.

As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge series, the one-mile Jerome awarded points on a 10-5-3-2 scale to the four contestants, and My World registered a third consecutive win over the Aqueduct oval with the two-length decision.

Brad Cox trains the gray three-year-old colt of Essential Quality for Robert V. Lapenta and Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin), and Jaime Rodriguez was up.

🌎 MY WORLD runs down BALBOA to win the Jerome S. at Aqueduct!

The 3YO son of Essential Quality is now 3 for 4 in his young career for trainer @bradcoxracing! Jaime Rodriguez was in the saddle. pic.twitter.com/86wE8b4D5r

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 3, 2026

A maiden winner the second time out at six furlongs, My World followed with a 3 1/2-length triumph in the one-mile Nashua on Nov. 1, prompting the pace both times. He utilized more stalking tactics in the Jerome, establishing positioning a couple lengths back as Freedom’s Echo showed the way through opening splits in :23.58 and :47.12 with Balboa tracking second.

Balboa, the odds-on favorite following a third in the Remsen (G2) on Dec. 6, took over the lead on the far turn as My World advanced to second. My World wore down Balboa in the final sixteenth of a mile, drifting in and bumping his rival before edging away to prevail as the 5-2 third choice. Balboa held second by 3 3/4 lengths over Enforced Agenda, and Freedom’s Echo trailed.

My World stopped the teletimer in 1:38.96.

'We skipped the Remsen for this one to give him more time,” Cox assistant trainer Dustin Dugas said. “He's a smaller horse and the other race was a mile and an eighth, so this gives him another mile race under his belt and then maybe we can step forward with some more distance. He's really improving -- mentally more so than anything.

'This horse is still figuring things out. With each race, he's maturing mentally but it's still like he's not completely there. You'll see every time he comes by a horse; he'll still want to lean in. It's just some greenness on his end, but talented, nonetheless. Once he got past that horse, he ran on and kept a straight course.”

A $350,000 yearling purchase, My World has yet to race at two turns but is bred to appreciate longer distances. His sire won the Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1), and My World’s dam, multiple two-turn stakes winner Quebec, is a daughter of Into Mischief, who notched his third Kentucky Derby victory as a sire via Sovereignty last year.