Gordian Knot unlikely to unravel in Pennsylvania Nursery

Gordian Knot puts his undefeated record on the line Tuesday in Parx Racing’s $200,000 Pennsylvania Nursery for 2-year-old statebreds at seven furlongs.

The other stakes on the card is the $75,000 Future Stars Fillies for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

Trained by Guadalupe Preciado, Gordian Knot captured his debut by seven lengths in a statebred maiden special on Aug. 22 at Parx. He backed that race up with a two-length triumph at Parx in the Prince Lucky at 6 1/2 furlongs the following month, then conquered Presque Isle Downs’s Tapeta surface with a 4 1/4-length win in the Mark McDermott on Oct. 25.

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Preciado lauded Gordian Knot for his professionalism.

“He does everything perfect,” he said.

Gordian Knot is a sizable son of Social Inclusion, and Preciado is looking forward to stretching him out in distance.

While Gordian Knot acts like an old pro, Picture This is still learning.

Picture This was scratched from what was supposed to be his first start after he sat down in the starting gate, trainer Michael Matz said. Picture This went off favored at Delaware Park in his belated debut Sept. 3, but finished a well-beaten sixth.

“He was pretty green and didn’t know what to do,” Matz said.

Since that effort, Picture This has put it together, winning both subsequent starts in gate-to-wire fashion at Delaware.

Ninetyprcentmaddie is undefeated from three starts, all at Parx. Trained by Butch Reid, Ninetyprcentmaddie won the Whistle Pig on Aug. 22. He was favored in the Prince Lucky, but was scratched by the track veterinarian during warmups.

“Unfortunate timing,” Reid said. “He came up with a foot bruise.”

Ninetyprcentmaddie recovered well enough to dominate five others in his most recent start, an open first-level allowance on Halloween. This will be his first start past six furlongs, but Reid believes “the further the better” for the full brother to multiple stakes-placed dirt router Ninetypercentbrynn.

Winning Time enters off an 11-length debut victory against statebred maiden special weight company on Nov. 7 at Parx. The race “exceeded expectations,” according to trainer Kathleen DeMasi, who campaigned both of Winning Time’s first two dams as well as his sire, the stakes winner Winchill.

“It’s not my M.O. to run a baby back this quick, but he came out of the race well enough,” she said.

Winchill is the sire of multiple stakes-placed turf router You Must Chill, so Winning Time might appreciate stretching out from the six furlongs of his debut.

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All Eyes On You was one of five next-out winners to emerge from a maiden special weight on Sept. 24 at Parx, won by Tuskegee Airmen, who went on to win the Rocky Run at Delaware and is 2 for 2. Trained by Uriah St Lewis, All Eyes On You graduated Oct. 18 in his fifth start, showing improved speed over a muddy surface at Parx.

Also entered were Keithsendshelloooo, Respirator, Paynted Warrior, Strawberry Treat, Bejuco, Spendolini, and Veeson.

Future Stars Fillies

Reid trains the two morning-line favorites in the Future Stars Fillies, Girl Trouble and Mendelian.

Girl Trouble, by Fast Anna, finished third in the White Clay Creek on Oct. 14 over a muddy Delaware track that Reid believes she did not appreciate. Returned to Parx for her most recent start, Girl Trouble exploded to an eight-length victory in a first-level allowance traveling seven furlongs on Nov. 1. Paco Lopez rode her that day and will be aboard Tuesday.

“I’m a little concerned turning all the way back to three-quarters,” Reid said. “But she’s a handy horse and the jock can put her where he wants from the outside post position.”

Mendelian broke from the rail over sloppy going in her only start, which came going six furlongs in a maiden special weight on Oct. 24 at Parx. Seven lengths back early, she rallied to the lead in midstretch and won by six lengths.

“She’s not a very big horse,” Reid said of the Mendelssohn filly. “She showed ability, but the guts was a little surprising. You never know how first-timers are going to handle dirt in the face and having to work their way through the crowd.”

Gold Medal Anna was fourth in her debut behind Mendelian, but rebounded to win her second start, a maiden special weight over fast going on Nov. 9 at Parx. She is a daughter of Fast Anna out of Voodoo Dancer, a multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire who excelled going longer on the turf.

Laurel invader Beatiful Karla, rail-drawn Creative Copy, and maiden Can’t Complain should show early speed.

First-time starter Tell Me Im Awesome, Blome, and Precious Avary complete the field.

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