Flagndini, Nasa stand out in Pennsylvania Nursery

At first glance, the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery at seven furlongs seems pretty straightforward. The past performances of Flagndini and Nasa stand out, and they figure as the two favorites. But is it that simple?

Although half of the 10 statebred 2-year-olds entered are maidens, some easily could be better than they have shown to date. They either have faced difficult rivals who would fit well in this restricted stakes themselves or have raced greenly and now are ready to move forward.

Key contenders

Flagndini (Last Beyer: 75)

* Was sent from the gate to make the lead in his Sept. 6 debut and drew off to win by 5 3/4 lengths over Nasa.

* Was given a bullet five-furlong work two weeks after his debut win but didn’t work again for six weeks. He enters this race off a three-work pattern and a 91-day layoff.

DRF Formulator Fact: In the last five years, trainer Ramon Preciado is 22 for 68 (32 percent) with a positive return on investment of $2.48 when bringing horses back from layoffs of between 60 and 120 days. However, in the last five years, he never has run a 2-year-old with that much time between races.

Nasa (Last 3 Beyers: 77-77-57)

* Nasa has ability but not a lot of speed. He’s closed belatedly in two of his three career starts for trainer John Servis.

* The seven furlongs of this race work to his advantage, while others may prefer shorter. In his lone try at the distance, he won a Laurel maiden race by 9 1/4 lengths.

Ugottahaveheart (Last Beyer: 65)

* Beaten 5 3/4 lengths by Bucchero to finish second in an open maiden race in his debut and has every right to improve. Bucchero, trained by Mike Trombetta, has started twice. He was second in a statebred stakes at Indiana Grand and won his maiden, earning a 79 Beyer Speed Figure.

Awesome Alex (Last 3 Beyers: 73-80-58)

* Earned the highest Beyer in the field, an 80, when second, beaten a neck by Skill Not Luck, two starts back. Skill Not Luck, trained by Chad Brown, returned to win an open first-level allowance at Parx.

* Finished third in an Aqueduct maiden race last out.

* Adds blinkers for this race.

Scip of Vindy (Last 3 Beyers: 68-67-41)

* Finally won a maiden race in his fifth try when dropped in for a $25,000 claiming tag at Penn National.

* Tested Skill Not Luck at 16-1 in an allowance race last out, finishing second, beaten one length.

* Turns back from a two-turn race at a mile and 70 yards to seven furlongs here and should finish well.

Tazewell County (Last Beyer: 57)

* Was outrun to the stretch in an open maiden race at Penn National in his debut but found his best stride late and finished second, beaten a half-length.

* May improve with that race under his belt.