Lord Nelson back at best game in Bay Shore

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The two-turn experiment over, Lord Nelson will look to remain undefeated around one turn when he heads a field of eight 3-year-old sprinters set to run seven furlongs in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct.

Lord Nelson, trained by Bob Baffert, is 3 for 3 around one turn, including a neck victory over last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Texas Red, in the Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Anita on Feb. 1. He was given a third opportunity to show himself around two turns but could do no better than fourth in the Grade 2 San Felipe, finishing 5 1/4 lengths behind the Baffert-trained winner, Dortmund.

“He’s more explosive when he goes one turn,” Baffert said.

For the third straight race, Lord Nelson drew the rail. He will be ridden by Joel Rosario and carry the co-high weight of 123 pounds.

Ready for Rye, the other horse in at 123 pounds, is coming off a powerful 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Swale at Gulfstream, defeating Wood Memorial morning-line favorite Daredevil. That he was able to perform so admirably at seven furlongs was a bit of a surprise to his trainer, Tom Albertrani.

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“I was a little concerned he may not get seven-eighths, that he might have too much speed to get that extra eighth of a mile,” Albertrani said.

Majestic Affair is 2 for 2 at seven furlongs, including a victory in the Frank Whiteley Stakes at Laurel on Jan. 29. Most recently, he finished second to fellow Bay Shore starter Ackeret in the six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield.

Key Contenders

Lord Nelson (Last 3 Beyers: 95-92-82)

◗ He has trained forwardly since his fourth-place finish in the San Felipe, prompting Baffert to ship the horse across the country.

“He’s doing great right now,” Baffert said. “He’s coming to that race sharp. I’d expect a big effort out of him.”

◗ In his two-turn races, he has finished behind the likes of American Pharoah, last year’s 2-year-old champion, and El Kabeir, a three-time graded stakes winner and top contender for Saturday’s Grade 1 Wood Memorial.

Ready for Rye (Last 3 Beyers: 105-87-96)

◗ His only losses came when second to Carpe Diem in a maiden race and second to Barbados in the Spectacular Bid. Carpe Diem has come back to win two graded stakes and is favored in Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes. Barbados came back to win the Hutcheson Stakes.

◗ Albertrani said Ready for Rye has done well since earning a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure in the Swale.

“He’s had two nice works since the race,” Albertrani said. “I’d say he hasn’t missed a beat from the Swale.”

Majestic Affair (Last 3 Beyers: 79-92-97)

◗ He posted back-to-back stakes wins in a four-week span in January, winning both the Fred “Cappy” Capossela and Frank Whiteley by 5 3/4 lengths.

◗ He had to go five wide while Ackeret snuck through on the rail when second to that rival in the Jimmy Winkfield over Aqueduct’s inner track March 8.

◗ He gets a rider switch from Kendrick Carmouche to Javier Castellano and drew the outside post in the eight-horse field.