TDN APB: Favorable Forecast for Cyclogenisis

Matt Schera’s Cyclogenisis (c, 3, Stormy Atlantic–Mighty Renee, by Maria’s Mon)–off since going a perfect two-for-two in the grassy Laurel Futurity Sept. 27 (video)–continues to come along since having a chip removed last fall. 

“Unfortunately, he had a small chip [around his knee] right after the Laurel race,” Schera revealed. “We had it taken out right away–it was a very clean chip, so it shouldn’t bother him. He should be fine.” 

Schera continued, “He’s with Bill Recio in Ocala and he’s galloping right now. As long as everything goes well, we’ll send him back to [trainer] George Weaver and we’ll hopefully have him racing by April or May at the latest.” 

A sharp debut winner over the Saratoga grass Aug. 18, the full brother to GIII Sorrento S. victress Mighty Caroline ran to his 2-5 odds in the Laurel Futurity, unleashing a serious turn of foot to win by 5 3/4 promising lengths, stopping the clock for 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01 4/5. 

“I thought it was incredible,” Schera said of the performance. “His acceleration and the way he just pulled away from the other horses, it looked like he did it fairly easily. It was ultra-impressive.” 

The $500,000 GIII Penn Mile S. at Penn National in late May has been penciled in as a possible target, with a prep race beforehand, although Schera isn’t ruling out a potential change in surface moving forward. 

“I was just down in Ocala on Saturday,” Schera commented. “He’s bigger and stronger than he was before. According to Bill Recio, who also had him as a baby, his head is more in the game now, too. We’re really excited for him to come back. We’re not ruling out dirt for him, either.” 

Schera added that his promising 4-year-old Race Day (Tapit)–an eye-catching 8 1/2-length winner over subsequent Florida Sunshine Millions Classic S. hero Sr. Quisqueyano (Exclusive Quality) in a Gulfstream optional claimer Dec. 21–will make his stakes debut in the GIII Fred Hooper S. at Gulfstream Feb. 7. The gray, who earned a gaudy 109 Beyer that day, was purchased by Schera for $285,000 as a horse of racing age at the 2014 KEENOV sale. 

“Hopefully, this is just the beginning,” Schera said. 

For more on Schera & Cyclogenisis, click here for a TDN ‘In Sharper Focus.’

–Steve Sherack