Repole, Nest have ‘unfinished business'

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mike Repole hopes to return Eclipse Award champion Nest to the races in 2024 to complete some “unfinished business,” after going to a co-sale-topping $6 million to buy out his partners in the filly at the Fasig-Tipton November sale on Tuesday.

Nest was co-campaigned to the 2022 Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly title by Repole, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House, with trainer Todd Pletcher. Highgate Sales handled the consignment of the 4-year-old Curlin filly as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Repole said the first order of business will be to turn Nest out and to have her carefully checked over before resuming training, following a disappointing end to her 2023 season when fourth in the Grade 1 Spinster behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Idiomatic last month at Keeneland. Following that race, Pletcher was not entirely satisfied with her training, and the filly was not pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup.

“Hopefully she’ll be a hundred percent,” Repole said.

If Nest is unable to return to training, Repole, who is making his name as a breeder – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness is a homebred, and he bred and sold this year’s Keeneland September sale topper – does have interests in several major stallions, including classic sire Uncle Mo, whom he raced.

“She could have a date with him,” Repole said. “But I really think that the objective and the goal would be to bring her back. I think she has unfinished business.”

To date, Nest has won 8 of 14 starts for earnings of more than $2.1 million. A graded stakes winner in each of her three seasons of racing, she won the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes, Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, Grade 1 Alabama Stakes, and Grade 2 Beldame Stakes in her championship campaign, along with finishing second in both the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Oaks.

A minor illness delayed Nest’s 2023 season. She won the Grade 2 Shuvee in her first start in more than eight months, but then caught a sloppy, sealed track while finishing third behind Idiomatic at Saratoga. The Spinster wrapped up her abbreviated campaign.

“She had some issues, and she had the fever that got her started late,” Repole said. “And then the first race at Saratoga where she was spectacular, I really think it took a lot out of her. I think if we get off to a better start and space her properly this year, I think she’s good for” a strong campaign.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.