Conventional wisdom among handicappers is that a lot of pace in a race does not work toward the speed horses’ advantage, but anything goes when the price is right.

And so it goes in the Jerome Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct, where an octet of 3-year-olds will line up in the first of four Kentucky Derby 2025 points races in New York this year.

Click here for Aqueduct entries and results.

McAfee and Studlydoright are the morning-line favorite and second choice, respectively. Although both certainly factor, I wonder how much this one-turn mile suits them against solid speed types.

I kind of hope Studlydoright runs evenly here to be a non-threatening third or fourth, because that should set up a better price for when he stretches out again. The Grade 2 Remsen was a disaster for him, and he is better than that, but I think we’ll see him improve with the return to two turns.

McAfee will be farther back. The loss by a head last out came to Optical, who is a mild contender in the Smarty Jones on Saturday at Oaklawn. The price just won’t be right on this one.

The speed horses in question are Cyclone Street and Mansetti. I have a slight preference for Cyclone Street, as he has a consistent style of making the front end while still registering solid Brisnet late-pace ratings. Mansetti is the fastest out of the gate at his best, but he definitely does not have the finish Cyclone Street has shown. Also, there’s a small concern that his worst effort came at seven furlongs vs. two wins at six. Still, the inside draw and his speed make him dangerous.

If things do dissolve on the front end, then Omaha Omaha is a price alternative to the favorites. This is his one-turn debut, so I would not give up on this one based on what happens here, but the race could set up for him.

I’d love to be live to Cyclone State, Mansetti and Omaha Omaha, and if Studlydoright and McAfee are the top two choices, then I think you’re fine boxing those three in an exacta. Whoever of the three is the longest price could be worth keying in a tri as well.