Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle two runners apiece in the
Grade 3, $250,000
Nashua and Grade 3, $250,000
Tempted
— a pair of juvenile
stakes that highlight Sunday’s card at Aqueduct.
Pletcher, who on Saturday will send out Angela Renee and
Daredevil as morning-line favorites in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, respectively, will also have the program favorites in
the Nashua and Tempted.
Blofeld, 8-5 morning-line favorite in the one-mile Nashua,
is undefeated through two career starts and coming off a huge score in the Grade
2 Futurity on October 5 at Belmont Park. The Quality Road colt had a bit of
trouble along the inside in the Futurity, but exploded late to win by
three-quarters of a length and complete the six-furlong distance in 1:09 2/5.
Blofeld was equally
impressive in his debut after having to concede a sizeable advantage to the
lightning-quick Signature Cat. The gray commenced a relentless pursuit in the
five-furlong dash and, ultimately, prevailed by a length over
that rival as well as next-out winner and Nashua entrant El Kabeir.
Blofeld, who has earned BRIS Speed figures of 84 and 100
for his first two starts, will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez from
post position 2.
Pletcher’s other runner, Savoy Stomp, has only one career
race under his belt, but it was an impressive one on September 27 at Belmont.
The Medaglia d’Oro dark bay rode the rail into the stretch of the seven-furlong sprint and cruised to a
two-length victory over a promising field of youngsters.
The $875,000 yearling purchase, who sits at 8-1 on the morning-line, will
break from the rail under Javier
Castellano.
After encountering Blofeld in his debut, El Kabeir broke
his maiden by 10 lengths while earnings a BRIS Speed rating of 100 for trainer John Terranova. The performance was good enough to make him the 5-2 second
choice in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 4 at Belmont, but the gray son of
Scat Daddy failed to handle the sloppy track that day and finished fourth, beaten 17
lengths by Daredevil.
El Kabeir, 4-1 on the morning-line, drew post 6 with Irad
Ortiz Jr. named to ride.
First Down, a debut winner for trainer Tom Albertrani;
Hebbronville, runner-up in the Futurity following a pair of romping wins at Parx
Racing; and The Truth Or Else, third in the
Champagne, complete the Nashua field.
In the one-mile Tempted, restricted to fillies, Pletcher
will be represented by Enchantress and Miss Always Ready.
Enchantress, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, has raced only once but made a positive impression when
taking a six-furlong dash on October 4 at Keeneland by 6 3/4 lengths. The Malibu
Moon filly, a $950,000
Barretts purchase, will break from post 6 with Velazquez aboard.
Miss Always Ready made her August 10 debut over Saratoga’s turf, finishing
ninth, but broke her maiden next out by 5 3/4 lengths in a one-mile,
off-the-turf event on October 4 at Belmont. Castellano has the call on the More
Than Ready filly, who sits at 10-1 on the morning-line, from post 7.
Grade 2 Matron winner Paulassilverlining will join the fray
for trainer Michelle Nevin. The Ghostzapper filly has made three career starts and
won two while never racing beyond six furlongs. Paulassilverlining enters the
Tempted at 7-2 on the morning-line, and drew post 4 with Ortiz in the irons.
Rounding out the Tempted field are Save Rock and Roll,
fourth in the Matron; stakes-placed Sunday Sonnet, fifth in the Grade 1 Chandelier last
out; Stakes romper Harlan’s Honor, most recently fourth in the Selima at Laurel Park;
and Jacaranda, an impressive five-length debut winner for trainer Mike Hushion.
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