Frizette a stepping-stone for Nonna Mela
Nonna Mela is one of the top-ranked 2-year-old fillies in the country. She also is one of the least known. Her standing is based on a single race, her six-length victory in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga.
We’ll learn more about Nonna Mela on Saturday at Belmont Park when she tries to punch her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup in the Grade 1 Frizette, a Win and You’re In for the BC Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.
Her chief rivals appear to be Yellow Agate, trained by Christophe Clement, and Sky Gesture, who races for Rick Violette. They each come into the Frizette off a sharp debut victory.
Nonna Mela was part of a group of 2-year-olds trainer Todd Pletcher sent to Monmouth Park. She made two starts there prior to the Adirondack, which is part of the reason she was allowed to get away at 8-1 at Saratoga.
Sweet Loretta also was part of his Monmouth contingent. She went on to win the Schuylerville and Spinaway stakes at Saratoga, giving Pletcher victories in all of the major 2-year-old filly stakes at the meet.
“One thing most people don’t realize is that those horses were at Palm Beach Downs with me,” Pletcher said. “They were training there until about May 15, and that division all went to Monmouth. It was to simplify the shipping process more than anything talent-wise.”
Nonna Mela finished third in her career debut and then won her second start by 7 1/4 lengths despite stumbling at the start and being fanned three wide to the stretch.
“She ran well both times,” Pletcher said. “She overcame adversity in her second start.”
Nonna Mela, a daughter of Arch whom the St. Elias Stable purchased for $310,000 as a yearling, has tactical speed. On Saturday, she will be stretching out from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile.
“The filly has trained and is bred in a fashion that suggests she’ll be better as she stretches out,” Pletcher said.
Frizette, Race 4
Key Contenders
Nonna Mela, by Arch
Last 3 Beyers: 79-63-51
◗ With an eye to the Frizette and Breeders’ Cup, Pletcher has worked Nonna Mela only three times in the seven weeks since the Adirondack.
“The schedule should set her up appropriately for this start while keeping her fit for a Grade 1 in her following race,” Pletcher said.
Yellow Agate, by Gemologist
Beyer: 84
◗ Closed stoutly to overtake Amapola in deep stretch of her six-furlong maiden win. The way she finished suggests she should enjoy the added distance Saturday. Amapola is being considered for the Grade 3 Matron at Belmont.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Yellow Agate. Trainer Christophe Clement is 10-0-0-1 over the past five years with juveniles in graded stakes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Sky Gesture, by Tiznow
Beyer: 77
◗ Opened a sizable lead in upper stretch of her six-furlong maiden score and was not seriously threatened by the late-running runner-up, Cursor, who won a Belmont maiden race by three lengths Wednesday.
Libby’s Tail, by Tiz Wonderful
Beyers: 56-77
◗ One of two Rudy Rodriguez-trained entrants, Libby’s Tail closed well to win a Belmont maiden race in July.
◗ She made a nice middle move into contention in the Adirondack before flattening out to finish fourth.
◗ Rodriguez’s other runner, Colorful Charades, won her debut in a Saratoga maiden race, earning a 65 Beyer Speed Figure.
Star Super, by Super Saver
Last 3 Beyers: 58-64-49
◗ A front-running Laurel maiden winner trained by Dale Capuano, she got away from the gate poorly when third in the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Star Super. Beat seven rivals in her maiden win at Laurel Park on Aug. 5. Those runners went 7-3-2-0 in their next start, each one with improved Beyer Speed Figures. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan