Racing restarts downstate with tough maiden turf sprint
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Following a busy and pretty successful Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Saratoga, racing on this circuit returns to Aqueduct for three weeks before the summer sojourn to the Spa takes up again in early July.
Thursday’s eight-race card includes four turf races, the most intriguing of which may be the opener, a six-furlong maiden affair for 2-year-old fillies over the outer course.
Nonna’s Love, a half-sister to Fierceness and Mentee, makes her second career start for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole. In April, on dirt at Keeneland, Nonna’s Love chased the pacesetting favorite Gracie’s Delight, poking a head in front at the top of the stretch after working hard to get by that one. Nonna’s Love ultimately was passed by both Percy’s Bar and Cat Island, beaten four lengths.
“She trained pretty well on the dirt, we figured we’d give it a try,” Pletcher said, referring to Nonna’s Love’s debut. “Hopefully, she takes a step forward on the grass.”
While Fierceness went on to be the 2023 2-year-old champion, Mentee won the Grade 3 Futurity on turf at Aqueduct in October 2024. Nonna’s Love is by Caravaggio, a multiple Group 1 winner on turf in Europe.
John Velazquez rides Nonna’s Love from post 2.
Pletcher also sends out Venerini, a son of top turf sire Wootton Bassett, out of the dam Nickname, who won the Grade 1 Frizette on dirt. Venerini is a half-sister to Ides of March, who won twice sprinting on turf, including the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes in Ireland.
Kendrick Carmouche, who won the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan on Sunday at Saratoga, has the call on Venerini.
Trainer Graham Motion sends out the pair of Matadora and Chrysalism. Matadora is from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 turf winner Raging Bull, who has had three runners, none who have won. Flavien Prat rides.
Chrysalism is by Liam’s Map out of the dam Pachattack, who was a three-time winner on synthetic in the U.S., including the Grade 3 Doubledogdare at Keeneland for Motion in 2012 when Keeneland utilized a synthetic surface. Manny Franco rides Chrysalism.
Mark Casse has the duo of Golden Goose and Connect the Stars. Golden Goose, by Medaglia d’Oro, is the first foal of the unraced mare Electricita.
“We think Golden Goose is grass though we haven’t been able to breeze her on it,” Casse said. “Just her pedigree and the way she goes.”
Casse said the early 2-year-old races on turf are run at six furlongs instead of five, which is partly why he is running Connect the Stars in this spot. That and the dam’s two previous foals have won on the turf.
Maiora, a daughter of Speightstown, is making her debut in this spot for George Weaver.
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