Nest works; Beldame or Breeders' Cup Distaff next

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Nest, who won both the Grade 1 Alabama and Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga this summer, returned to the work tab Saturday morning, breezing an easy half-mile in 50.45 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.

Nest, the clear leader of the 3-year-old filly division, worked outside of Al’s Rocket. They went their opening quarter in 24.60 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.29.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has not decided if Nest would make her next start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame here on Oct. 9 or simply train up to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Nov. 5. He would not run her in the Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 9 since that is where he is running Malathaat, last year’s 3-year-old filly champion.

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Pletcher is also deciding where next to run Grade 1 Hopeful winner Forte. Pletcher said either the Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct on Oct. 1 or the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 8 are possible spots for him, as is simply training him up to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Forte had 51 days between the Sanford, in which he finished fourth, and the Hopeful.

“I like the way he ran with time in between races,” Pletcher said Saturday. “It’s kind of a balancing act. You got to run back kind of quick to go in the Champagne, and the Breeders’ Futurity gives you a little bit of a short turnaround” to the Breeders’ Cup.

Forte is still at Saratoga with several of Pletcher’s top runners, including Life Is Good, who is pointing to the Grade 1 Woodward at Aqueduct on Oct. 1.

Life Is Good is one of four potential older horses Pletcher is considering for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Happy Saver is pointing to the Grade 2 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on Oct. 1. Americanrevolution, second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, is training up to the Classic.

Plans are less defined for Dynamic One, the Grade 2 Suburban winner who finished sixth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Pletcher said Dynamic One will be nominated to both the Lukas Classic and the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

Pletcher said it is also possible Dynamic One could skip the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Untreated, third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, will shorten up to one mile in the Ack Ack at Churchill Downs on Oct. 1.