Nest likely for Alabama, but possible for Travers, Pletcher says
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - While the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on Aug. 20 remains the current primary objective for impressive Coaching Club American Oaks winner Nest, trainer Todd Pletcher on Sunday did leave the door ajar for a run against males in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 27.
“Right now, plan A would be the Alabama, we’ll see how some of these prep races unfold next weekend,” said Pletcher, who trains Nest for Mike Repole and Aron Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “Both races are a mile and a quarter, which suits her well, but talking to the ownership last night everyone’s kind of focused on the Alabama, but, under certain circumstances, wouldn’t absolutely rule out keeping the Travers as some sort of on-the-radar plan.”
This weekend’s prep races include Friday’s $135,000 Curlin Stakes, which drew a field of nine including the Pletcher-trained, Repole-owned Be Better. There is also Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, which is expected to include Preakness winner Early Voting, Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Epicenter, Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Zandon, and Ohio Derby winner Tawny Port. Ethereal Road, the Sir Barton winner, also is possible.
The Travers has been the goal for upset Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, who has not raced since finishing sixth in the Belmont Stakes. Cyberknife, Saturday’s Haskell winner, will also be considered for the Travers.
Lady Rotha in 1915 was the last filly to win the Travers, doing so by disqualification of a horse named Trial by Jury. Wonder Gadot, in 2018, was the last filly to run in the Travers, finishing last of 10.
Nest has fared well against the boys before, having finished second to stablemate Mo Donegal in the Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles. It was how well she came out of the Belmont that prompted Pletcher to run her in the Coaching Club American Oaks. Nest more than ran to her training, rolling to a 12 1/4-length victory over Secret Oath, who had beaten Nest by two lengths in the Kentucky Oaks.
Pletcher said Sunday morning that Nest came out of the Coaching Club in good order.
Nest earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance in Saturday's race, one in which the five-horse field was spread out four across the track down the backside before Irad Ortiz Jr. asked Nest to take the lead entering the far turn. She was pursued briefly by Secret Oath, who was basically a non-factor at the quarter pole.
Pletcher noted that the complexion of the race changed significantly when expected pacesetter Society got away poorly and was then rushed up to make the lead. Meanwhile, Nest was right there the entire trip.
“The complexion of the race changed a bit at the start, still Irad got the position he wanted,” Pletcher said. “I didn’t know everybody would bunch up like they did, but aside from that it pretty much unfolded the way we anticipated.”
The Coaching Club was Nest’s second Grade 1 win of the year; she also won the Ashland at Keeneland. The way she dominated Secret Oath should put her atop the 3-year-old filly division.
“Seems recency is very important to voters. We’ve been in this position before where we felt we had a commanding lead with Princess of Sylmar going into the Breeders’ Cup,” said Pletcher, referring to the fact Beholder won the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and wrested a division title away from Princess of Sylmar. “You never take anything for granted, but I thought we made a big move forward.”
If Nest does go in the Alabama she will again face Secret Oath. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that Secret Oath was probably too close to the pace for her to be most effective and that she also needed a race over the deep Saratoga track.
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“We always come from six, seven lengths back, we stalk them, and then we run to them and run by them,” Lukas said. “We don’t fight the pace, it was just one of those deals.”
Lukas said Luis Saez would definitely ride Secret Oath back. “I’m just going to have a heart-to-heart with him.”
Lukas said Secret Oath came out of the race in good shape.
Nostalgic, who was third, beaten 15 1/4 lengths, is also likely to contest the Alabama provided it’s a short field, trainer Bill Mott said Sunday.