Nagirroc looking to ration speed in two-turn Secretariat

Even the best, most prepared jockeys like Flavien Prat can be subject to the whims of the thousand-pound animals upon whose back they sit. Prat had engineered a gorgeous trip for the 3-year-old colt Nagirroc easily winning the James Murphy Stakes on May 20 at Pimlico, where Prat settled his mount behind horses and burst to the lead in upper stretch. But in the July 7 Manila Stakes at Belmont, Prat found himself going head and head on a fast pace with Nagirroc, who had little left for the final furlong.

“I think he caught Flavien off guard a little bit,” trainer Graham Motion said. “I think he learned something about him.”

Prat can put that knowledge to good use Saturday at Colonial Downs in the Grade 2, $500,000 Secretariat Stakes. Nagirroc is one of seven entrants in a one-mile contest for 3-year-olds and returns to a two-turn race, like the Murphy, after going a one-turn mile at Belmont.

“Those one-turn races, they can be a little different,” Motion said. “When you run these horses that can be a little sharp, that one turn race can turn into more of a sprint.”

Nagirroc was entered in the Hall of Fame Stakes last week at Saratoga, and while that race was postponed because of weather, Motion said the Secretariat always had been the goal. Nagirroc drew post 3 on Saturday. Gigante directly to his inside and Mo Stash to his immediate outside likely are going to the lead. If things work out, Prat can park his mount just behind them, and if Nagirroc will switch off like he did at Pimlico, he’ll be formidable.

But even a return to top form is no guarantee of success in a tough race. The Secretariat is likely to go with six runners at most if More Than Looks starts as intended in the Hall of Fame on Friday at Saratoga. His trainer, Cherie DeVaux, has Northern Invader for the Secretariat. Northern Invader ran very well while finishing second in his first two starts, both over seven furlongs on dirt, and was explosive clearing the maiden ranks July 1 in a Belmont turf mile, winning by eight lengths with a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I expect him to fit in. It’s a big step up in class, but not by the number,” DeVaux said. “He’s the kind of horse that kind of goes along and does whatever we ask him to do.”

Northern Invader should get a stalking trip under John Velazquez at a price far lower than his 8-1 morning line.

Mo Stash can wire this field if he can get clear of Gigante, while Silver Knott figures to be a late-running threat. Trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, Silver Knott missed by a nose last fall going one mile in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He made his 2023 debut over an extremely demanding course in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and was racing beyond his best distance when fifth last out in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby. Jamie Spencer, noted for his work taking horses back to make one big run, has the mount Saturday.

Major Dude will be a major player with a return to his winter and spring form, but he was well below his best finishing a well-beaten fourth in the Grade 3 Manila Stakes.

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