Blofeld primed for stretch-out to mile in Nashua

If you wake up Sunday feeling a little frazzled with a case of the post-Breeders’ Cup blues, the best way to shake them off might be to jump right into a new day’s races.

Aqueduct has a pair of one-mile stakes for 2-year-olds carded, the Grade 2 Nashua and the Grade 3 Tempted. The purses of both races are $250,000. They are the local preps for the Remsen and Demoiselle on Nov. 29.

The Nashua, with a field of six, will be run as the third race at 1:18 p.m. Eastern. The Tempted has seven entrants and will go as the sixth race at 2:45 p.m. Beginning Sunday, first post at Aqueduct changes to 12:20 p.m.

Todd Pletcher has the favorites for both stakes. Blofeld comes into the Nashua off a hard-earned victory in the Grade 2 Futurity. The 87 Beyer Speed Figure that Enchantress earned for winning her debut is the highest in the Tempted.

Blofeld won his maiden going five furlongs at Saratoga and the Futurity at Belmont Park going six furlongs but has not looked like strictly a sprinter.

He ran down the quick Signature Cat in his debut despite racing greenly in the stretch. In the Futurity, he was steadied inside the pacesetting Cinco Charlie on the far turn and dropped back off the pace. He looked beaten at the eighth pole but dug in and was pulling away late despite never getting off the rail.

“I think it’s a good, natural progression for him, five to six to a mile,” Pletcher said.

Nashua (Race 3)

KEY CONTENDERS

Blofeld (Last 2 Beyers: 100-88)

◗ The final eighth of the Futurity went in 11.86 seconds. Blofeld was about a length off the pace at the furlong pole and three-quarters of a length in front at the finish.

El Kabeir (Last 2 Beyers: 74-93-77)

◗Won his maiden by 10 3/4 lengths at Saratoga, then finished fourth, beaten almost 18 lengths, in the slop in the Champagne.

“I really believe it was just the conditions that day,” trainer John Terranova said. “It was wet. We were down on a bad rail. We’ll give him another shot at the mile.”

◗El Kabeir will add blinkers for the Nashua. He is not certain to start if the track is wet.

First Down (Debut Beyer: 86)

◗Won his debut at Belmont going 6 1/2 furlongs. The second-, fourth-, and fifth-place finishers all came back to win.

“I was very impressed by his first win,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “A lot of times I get them ready to run, but I always expect they will move forward in their second start.”

Hebbronville (Last 3 Beyers: 98-84-84)

◗Had dead aim on the outside in the Futurity. Was able to get up for second but was outfinished by Blofeld.

Savoy Stomp (Debut Beyer: 76)

◗Pletcher’s second horse in the field, he was an $875,000 yearling. He defeated 11 rivals in his debut, the first race on Belmont’s Super Saturday card.

“Savoy Stomp drew the rail again, which he seemed to be able to accommodate last time,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully he can maneuver a good trip from there again."

– additional reporting
by David Grening