Nostalgic's new running style pays off in Gazelle
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A new running style has led to a new and improved Nostalgic.
A filly who dropped way back in her dirt races at age 2, Nostalgic has been amenable to lay closer to the pace now as a 3-year-old. It’s a style that paid off with an allowance win at Gulfstream last month, and it paid off handsomely again Saturday when Nostalgic rallied along the rail in the stretch to run by even-money favorite Venti Valentine and win the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths.
Venti Valentine, who set modest fractions under Manny Franco, finished second by two lengths over Shotgun Hottie. Classy Edition was fourth, followed by Divine Huntress, Morning Matcha, and Caragate. Greatitude scratched.
The win earned Nostalgic 100 qualifying points to the Kentucky Oaks on May 6 at Churchill Downs. There appears to be a deep field in the Oaks this year and trainer Bill Mott was non-committal afterward.
“We certainly got to consider it, although she’d be a great Alabama filly, but that’s a long way off,” said Mott, referring to the Grade 1 stakes race run at Saratoga in late August.
In the Gazelle, Venti Valentine, coming off a big win in the Busher last out, set a relatively easy pace of 24.48 seconds for the quarter, 49.26 for the half-mile and 1:13.93 for six furlongs under Manny Franco. Meanwhile, jockey Jose Ortiz had Nostalgic an up-close fourth, never more than 1 1/2 lengths back and along the inside while Classy Edition and Divine Huntress were chasing Venti Valentine from the outside.
Turning for home, Venti Valentine got away from Classy Edition and Divine Huntress, but left some space along the inside. Ortiz seized the opportunity to guide his filly through the opening. She took over inside the sixteenth pole and edged away for the victory.
“There was enough room passing the three-sixteenths pole, I decided to go through it,” Ortiz said. “Manny, he tightened it up, but I was already there.”
Nostalgic, a Godolphin-owned and bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.41 and returned $10.60 to win. Nostalgic earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.
Both Mott and Ortiz noted how Nostalgic has changed from last year. A year ago, she finished fourth in the Demoiselle, a race in which Nest beat Venti Valentine by a neck.
“Last year, she was very inexperienced, [the Demoiselle] was first time going two turns, she gave herself too much to do and it was a heavy track,” Ortiz said. “Now, as a 3-year-old, she woke up. She knows what she’s doing. Last time at Gulfstream she showed that she has tactical speed and was able to finish.”
Mott said last year Nostalgic “just hadn’t learned how to put in that kind of run, she hadn’t learned how to get that position. It all goes together, maturity and time. She had a good winter at Payson Park.”
The connections of Venti Valentine seemed a bit stunned that their filly was run down. Trainer Jorge Abreu felt the filly would have been more effective if she had someone to follow.
“Not having a target I think cost her the race,” Abreu said. “I think Manny gave her a good ride. He did the right thing, took the lead right out of the gate, he didn’t go any crazy fractions. Turning for home I never thought we were going to get beat.”
Abreu said a start in the Kentucky Oaks will still be considered for Venti Valentine.