DiVito pointing Nu What's New to Ack Ack, BC Dirt Mile
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Jimmy DiVito started training horses on his own eight years before the first Breeders’ Cup. If things go the way he hopes this summer and early autumn, he’ll have his first Breeders’ Cup runner on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Four-year-old Nu What’s New has started three times over one mile, winning a maiden and the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile this winter at Oaklawn Park, where one-mile contests come around two turns. On June 27, Nu What’s New went a one-turn mile in the Grade 3 Hanshin at Churchill Downs, setting a very strong pace and prevailing by 1 1/2 lengths. His 105 Beyer was no outlier: Nu What’s New had gone 101, 103, 96 during a three-race span this winter.
The gelding, who campaigns for Richard Templer’s Doubledown Stables, came out of the Hanshin in good shape, DiVito said. On July 8, at Hawthorne, DiVito’s summer base, Nu What’s New went an easy half in 51.80. Hard to believe a horse so fast could work that slow.
“He’s easy to rate, really. A very, very rateable horse,” DiVito said.
While Nu What’s New already has breezed back, he won’t be racing again anytime soon. The plan calls for a summer respite, a start Sept. 26 at Churchill Downs in the Ack Ack, another one-turn mile, and if all goes well, a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile appearance.
“That’s the plan. Can we execute it? I just cross my fingers and pray that he stays healthy,” DiVito said.
Amber Cascade looks solid
Amber Cascade returns from an eight-month layoff the very likely favorite in the featured seventh race Sunday at Ellis Park.
The Flying P Stable and trainer Mike Maker claimed Amber Cascade for $80,000 in May 2025 clearly with the idea of switching her from dirt to turf – a good idea, it turned out. While Amber Cascade has failed to win in four grass races, she missed by a head in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Mile Preview at Ellis and came back with a fine second going three turns and 1 3/8 miles in the Flower Bowl at Saratoga.
She faces no more than six rivals Sunday in a third-level allowance open to $80,000 claimers and carded for 1 1/16 miles on grass, probably at a price considerably lower than the 3-1 morning line.
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