No Nay Never out to prove himself again in Woodford
LEXINGTON, Ky. – When last seen at Keeneland, No Nay Never looked like something special, winning on the Polytrack in his debut to kick off an unbeaten juvenile season. Now, some 17 months later, the colt is a question mark as he returns from his first loss and a layoff in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Woodford Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Keeneland turf.
No Nay Never followed his Keeneland debut with wins on grass in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 1 Prix Morny in France. No Nay Never was second to Spot in the Grade 2 Swale Stakes on March 1 at Gulfstream Park in his only try this year and on dirt.
“He loves Keeneland, he loves the grass,” said Wesley Ward, who trains the colt for Ice Wine Stable and the Coolmore partnership. “He should be ready to go. He’s been working lights out. He’s as sound as new money, and every breeze is just eye-opening. He’s a really amazing horse. He’s a big horse, but he moves like a cat.”
No Nay Never, who will have Mike Smith aboard for the first time, drew post 9 in a field of 11, and Ward said he would have “no excuses” in regard to post.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 No Nay Never. Trainer Wesley Ward is 35-3-8-4 with a $0.87 ROI over the past five years in turf sprints following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Breaking beside him in post 10 is multiple graded stakes winner Marchman, who may need to find a way to save ground under Robby Albarado. His best efforts have come on or near the lead. Trained by Bret Calhoun, Marchman owns a win at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Keeneland course, having taken the Grade 3 Shakertown Stakes during the spring meet by a neck over Positive Side, also back for the Woodford.
Key contenders
No Nay Never (Beyer: 80)
◗ Unbeaten on turf, with a pair of group stakes victories in Europe.
Marchman (Last 3 Beyers: 98-97-101)
◗ Hasn’t missed the board in six starts this year.
◗ Followed his Shakertown win by taking the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint over Undrafted at Churchill Downs.
◗ Making his first start since finishing third, beaten two noses by Ben’s Cat and Tightend Touchdown, in the Grade 3 Parx Dash on July 12.
Positive Side (Last 3 Beyers: 87-91-85)
◗ Yet to win this year but has been consistent in turf-sprint stakes, having finished second to Gantry in the Colonel Power, second to Marchman in the Shakertown, and second to Saint Leon in the Arlington Sprint.
Spring to the Sky (Last 3 Beyers: 97-97-94)
◗ Comes off three consecutive wins, including a pair of stakes at Saratoga.
Sharp Sensation (Last 3 Beyers: 97-79-89)
◗ Comes off a win in the Grade 3 Turf Monster over Ben’s Cat and Tightend Touchdown.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Console. Trainer Michael Maker is 8-4-1-1 with a $3.22 ROI over the past year in turf sprints in the third start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Dan Illman