Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest (Curlin) found herself a bit surprised by the early lead at GI Coaching Club American Oaks on Saturday, but there was still little doubt as to who the top sophomore in the country is now as she gallops home. 12 1/4 length away from main opponent Secret Vow (Pride) in the Saratoga passage.
After seeing a three-race winning streak unfold as she took second place as Secret Oath favorite during the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 6, Nest fell short. second stable Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GI Belmont S. June 11th. Despite losing two protracted decisions to Secret Oath in their previous match, Nest was still picked 4-5 by the public ahead of fourth place finisher GI Preakness S. .
Expected Pacesetter Society (Gunman) was one of two runners clumsily breaking inside, and Nest immediately ran outside having been rode on horseback by Irad Ortiz, Jr., narrowly taking the lead with recall (Medaglia d’Oro) and the Vow of Secrets not far behind while one and two walk away from the fence, respectively. Society proved tough behind the lead trio, and snuck into the fence in the middle of the first turn to gain the upper hand for a short time. Nest puts head back first after opening round: 24.10 and before round: 47.46.
The oath of secrecy has been suggested by Luis Saez to challenge Nest as it heads into the corner, and the stage appearing for a pitching could heavily determine the Eclipse title later this year. But midway through, it became clear that Nest had much more to offer, and the bay quickly turned nice with a few reminders from Ortiz in the paragraph above before being late to an end.
“My plan is not to get ahead, but I want to break out of there,” Ortiz said. “Honestly, that was the main thing and I was trying to break, and she broke cleanly and I realized that the other filth didn’t break well. So I said, ‘let’s go, Plan B.’ I was at the front and didn’t panic. I just let her do her thing. That is [how] race appeared. Everything changed when the gate opened and I just let her do her thing and she does the rest.”
A five-year romper contest that first routed in Belmont last September, Nest finished third closest to Tempted S. That November before taking the lead in Aqueduct’s £9 GII Demoiselle S. on December 4, February 12, and double during the day at the GI Central Bank of Keeneland, Ashland S. April 8 before the arrival of Oaks and Belmont.
“It’s funny when you spend so much time analyzing game plans and then, as they say, things can change right after the break – which it did today,” said Pletcher, who won a record eight renewals of the event, said earlier in recent years for Repole (Stopchargingmaria {Tale of the Cat}, 2014) and Eclipse (Curalina {Curlin}, 2015). “The main thing is that we want to establish some positions, leave smoothly and take the first turn in the striker position. We were able to do that even though people weren’t positioned exactly where we thought they were. In the end, those four fillings came together and [Nest] was able to resist the challenge from Secret Oath and keep going. “
Nest and Secret Oath are both likely to return for the GI Alabama S. August 20. Regarding the decision to run in this position, Pletcher said, “We’ve run a lot of horses in Belmont over the years, but we haven’t yet. There’s never been a better product than her. I think we should wait for Alabama, but she did too well to get through this race.”
Runner-up coach D. Wayne Lukas, Pletcher’s former boss, suggested: “I think coming in here, transportation is always difficult. The winner ran a super, super race. She won fair and square. We hang a little. I think we need to be a little tighter on this track. Getting in and getting out of the state is tough – it’s always been, and I’ve been here for 50 years. It’s always a place where you do a little better if you get through it. But the good news is we will have another shot.”
Saturday, Saratoga
COACHING CLUB AMERICAN OAKS-HOLD$485,000, Saratoga, 7-23, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:51.04, ft.
first-NEST, 121, f, 3, by Curlin
Dam One: Marion Ravenwood (SW, $112,598), by AP Indy
Beat 2: Andujar, by Quiet American
3rd beat: Nureyev’s Best, by Nureyev
($350,000 Ylg ’20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and House, Michael; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Old Barn (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $275,000. Lifetime record: 8-5-2-1, $1,405,550. * 1/2 for Dr Jack (Pioneerof the Nile), MSP, $156,155; Full for Idol, GISW, $426,964. Nick Werk Rating: A +++. * Triple Plus *. Click to view eNicks report & pedigree of 5 children.
2-The Vow of Secrets, 121, f, 3, by Arrogate
Dam One: Absinthe Minded (MSW & MGISP, $607,747), by Quiet American
2nd dam: Rockford Peach, by Great Above
3rd dam: Strawberry Skyline, by Hatchet Man
O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY); TD. Wayne Lukas. 100,000 dollars.
3–Nostalgic, 121, f, 3, by Medaglia d’Oro
First Beat: Been Here Before (SP), by Tapit
Strike 2: Connie Belle, by Storm Cat
3rd dam: The melody of the Minister, of the Deputy Minister
TYPE 1ST G1 BLACK. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott. 60,000 dollars.
Margins: 12 1/4, 3, 2HF. Odds: 0.95, 1.20, 20.30.
Also Ran: Guild, Butterbean.
Click to view Equibase.com chartthe PP of TJCIS.com or Free Equineline.com catalog style genealogy. VIDEO sponsored by TVG.
Genealogical notes:
One of Curlin18 Class I winners, Nest is the Horse’s third daughter in a two-time CCA Oaks year, joining Curalina and the aforementioned 2020 Paris Lights heroine. She was bred on the same cross as AP Indy as stable friend and 2021 champion, 3-year-old Malathaat, who looks set to avenge her narrow loss to Clariere (Curlin) in last month’s GI Ogden Phipps S. in Sunday’s GII Shuvee S..
Both Clairiere and Paris Lights are no longer mares by the leading brethren Bernardini, and Nest’s stake-winning dam, Marion Ravenwood, was bred on the same cross as Bernardini, not a quiet American mare.
In addition to Nest and the 2021 GI Santa Anita H. Hero Idol, Marion Ravenwood is responsible for $275,000 HOLD ’21 longing for Lost Ark (Violence), who did a five-and-a-half-long pitch to Pletcher and Harrell Ventures earlier this month in Belmont. Aside from GSW/GISP and the $2.5 million FTKNOV seller Andujar, Marion Ravenwood doesn’t get City of light in 2021 and bred for both Quality Sugar and Curlin for 2022 but a pony has not been registered so far.
