Isolate in from Florida for Nashua Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Ten years ago, Mucho Macho Man finished second in the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct in what was his first start for trainer Kathy Ritvo.

A decade later, Ritvo hopes to go one better in the one-mile race for 2-year-olds when she sends out Isolate in Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct.

“I was second in that race once, I don’t intend to be second again,” said Ritvo, who otherwise tried to be as guarded as possible with her comments for fear of jinxing the colt.

Isolate, a son of Mark Valeski, won his first two starts impressively at Gulfstream Park. In his debut, he overcame a rough trip in which he had to steady leaving the three-furlong pole, then got beat to a spot by Boomer at the quarter pole. After altering course in the stretch and splitting horses, Isolate beat Boomer by three-quarters of a length. While Boomer has not run back, Poppy’s Pride, third in that Aug. 6 race, has since come back to win his maiden and a listed stakes race at Gulfstream.

Isolate came back to win a six-furlong allowance by 10 lengths in the slop. Breaking alertly under Cristian Torres, he took some token pressure inside before running away late.

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Ritvo believes based on what she’s gleaned from those two performances that stretching out to a one-turn mile should not be problematic for Isolate, who arrived in New York earlier in the week.

“He’s a classy horse, classy acting, beautiful size, beautiful stride, great attitude, real smart,” Ritvo said. “Everything you can ask for.”

Torres also arrived from Florida in time to get COVID-tested and be eligible to ride Isolate from post 5.

The Nashua attracted a field of seven, including Ten for Ten, a son of Frosted who won his maiden by eight lengths in his second start. Trainer Shug McGaughey added blinkers to the colt’s equipment following a second-place finish and appeared to get the desired result. Ten for Ten will actually be cutting back in distance from 1 1/16 miles.

Prior to his maiden victory, McGaughey said the blinkers had made Ten for Ten more focused after he seemed to get lost in his works without them. In his maiden score, he was on the pace and drew away from the field in a race run over a sloppy track.

Trainer Bill Mott won five races with his 2-year-olds at the Belmont fall meet. While three won in their second career start and one in their third, Nova Rags won at first asking. Nova Rags seemed stuck in neutral in upper stretch, but when he put his mind to business he came with a strong final eighth-mile to get the victory.

“I guess the big question is will he stretch out a little bit,” Mott said shortly after his maiden win. “His style suggests he will.”

Pickin’ Time, a son of Stay Thirsty trained by Kelly Breen, comes off a win in the Smoke Glacken Stakes at Monmouth. Spectatorless, Civil War, and Irish Honor complete the field.

The Nashua goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 11:50 a.m.