Hey Nay Nay shows steady development with Del Mar Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. - For a colt with three starts, Hey Nay Nay left jockey Hector Berrios impressed with his development after a win in Sunday’s Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

Berrios was aboard Hey Nay Nay for a comfortable win in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on June 1. Paco Lopez rode Hey Nay Nay to a seven-length win in the $98,000 Tyro Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.

Berrios regained the mount for the Grade 3, $104,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile. The added distance showed why Hey Nay Nay could be among North America’s leading hopes in the always tough Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at a mile at Del Mar on Oct. 31.

“When you’re on a good horse, the distance doesn’t matter,” Berrios said. “He’s professional. When I put him second, he was nice.”

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Berrios was under instruction from trainer John Sadler to urge Hey Nay Nay away from the gate to avoid trouble in a field of 13.

“I wanted him to get out,” Sadler said. “When you’re running against 13 2-year-olds, you don’t want to get slaughtered by a 60-1 shot.”

Near the front quickly, Hey Nay Nay stalked Dirty Rich through a solid pace of 22.32 for the opening quarter-mile and 46.61 for a half-mile before taking the lead in early stretch. Hey Nay Nay led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining and won by that margin over the regally bred Plutarch, a 5-1 chance ridden by Juan Hernandez who was last on the backstretch.

Hey Nay Nay ($4) was timed in 1:35.57 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 78.

Plutarch, by leading stallion Into Mischief, is out of Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2016. Plutarch was second in a maiden race on dirt on Aug. 23 and had his second start on Sunday.

“He has a lot of ability,” Hernandez said. “First time on turf, he was a little green.”

Proletariat (9-1) finished third, followed by Caro Buono, Conducted, Oracle of Paradise, Later Than Planned, Jalisco, Love the Pressure, Won for Lou, Born to Rock, Stay for the Boom and Dirty Rich.

Hey Nay Nay, an Irish-bred by No Nay Never, races for Hronis Racing and Iapetus Racing. Purchased for $300,000 as a yearling at Keeneland last September, Hey Nay Nay has earned $156,000 in three starts.

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