Nothing Better takes second consecutive Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Nothing Better, it seems, is never better than when he runs at Aqueduct.

His last three victories have come over Aqueduct’s turf course, capped Saturday by a repeat victory in the $150,0000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship.

Sent to the front by Dylan Davis, Nothing Better was able to get clear through solid, though not severe, fractions, and had enough to keep 44-1 shot Boat’s a Rockin at bay to win by 1 3/4 lengths. It was a half-length back to Alogon in third.

Nothing Better ran six furlongs faster this year (1:07.27) than he did last year (1:07.61). In between, he set the Aqueduct outer turf-course record for six furlongs (1:06.80) when he won an allowance race here in April.

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“He loves this track,” trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. said afterward. “We got lucky, there was no rain this week and it was a firm turf course. He’s sharp. He likes the colder weather. He ran his race. Dylan put him on the lead and that was the plan.”

Nothing Better had finished behind some of his rivals Saturday when he finished fifth in the Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth in July. Duarte said the horse wasn’t himself that day. He gave him a break after that race and he returned with a strong runner-up finish to Today’s Flavor here on Sept. 22.

Though it looked like there could be other speed in the race, Nothing Better easily made the lead under Davis and held a narrow lead over Dancing Buck through a solid half-mile in 44.38 seconds. Nothing Better kept going at a solid clip while Dancing Buck couldn’t maintain that pace. That left Nothing Better with a clear advantage at the eighth pole and he had more left to give when Boat’s a Rockin made a bid.

Nothing Better, a 6-year-old gelding by Munnings, returned $12.20 as the 5-1 third choice.

“I was hoping for a real clean break. Duarte didn’t say I had to be on the lead, but he definitely wanted me to come out running,” Davis said. “We got a clean break, he got into stride nicely and it wasn’t slow fractions but he was comfortable there. After that, I was working with him, really light on the bridle, keeping him happy and he fought all the way through to the wire.”

Alogon finishd third by a neck over Our Shot, the 3-2 favorite. Behind him, in order, were Witty, Dancing Buck, Fore Harp, Thin White Duke, Vacation Dance, Run Curtis Run and Grateful Bred.

Wit was scratched after he suffered some cuts on the van ride over from Belmont, according to the track stewards.

Duarte said Nothing Better will be pointed to a 7-year-old campaign in 2024, one that, if nothing else, will certainly include a trip or two to Aqueduct.

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