Nations Pride probably will call it a season after Jockey Club Derby
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Nations Pride is likely to wrap up his stay in North America Saturday when he takes on Classic Causeway and four others in the Grade 3, $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational on the turf at Aqueduct.
Nations Pride finished second to Classic Causeway in the Belmont Derby on July 9 and then flipped the script in the Saratoga Derby, beating Classic Causeway by 1 3/4 lengths. Saturday those two will meet the German-based Ardakan and three seemingly overmatched opponents in Daunt, The Grey Wizard and Wicked Fast in the 1 1/2-mile Jockey Club Derby.
Charlie Appleby trains Nations Pride for Godolphin Racing and said that while a victory in the Jockey Club Derby could make him consider sending the horse to the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 5 at Keeneland, the most likely scenario has Nations Pride returning to England to prepare for a winter campaign in Dubai with an eye on returning to the U.S. as a 4-year-old.
“I do feel he’s a horse that will be returning back to America next year for sure,” Appleby said Wednesday. “We might just finish him up after this trip and let him freshen up for the winter again.”
Nations Pride finished eighth going 1 1/2 miles in the Epsom Derby in June. Appleby maintains the soft ground more than the trip worked against Nations Pride that day.
Frankie Dettori, aboard Nations Pride when he finished second in the Belmont Derby but not when he won the Saratoga Derby, will be in for the ride Saturday.
Flavien Prat has the call on Classic Causeway, replacing Julien Leparoux, who was aboard the horse for his two previous starts.
Ardakan, a Group 2 winner in Italy, is here for German-based trainer Markus Klug. Andrasch Starke, who won the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup here in June aboard Loft, will ride Ardakan.
The Grey Wizard and Daunt, both eligible for a first-level allowance, and Wicked Fast, claimed for $35,000 last out, complete the field.
In Saturday’s Grade 3, $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks, McKulick, winner of the Belmont Oaks and runner-up in the Saratoga Oaks, heads a field of six entered for the 1 3/8-mile turf race.
Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on McKulick for trainer Chad Brown.
German Oaks winner Toskana Belle is in from Germany for trainer Andreas Wohler. Frankie Dettori rides. Beside Herself, Canisy, Miss Yearwood and Nostalgic complete the field.