Two additions change shape of Nashua
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - What a difference five days makes. When the Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua Stakes was originally drawn for last Sunday, it contained six
2-year-old colts eligible for first-level allowance conditions.
The Nashua, along with its filly counterpart, the Tempted, was postponed because of dangerously high winds. The revised version of the Nashua expanded to a field of eight and got tougher with the additions of out-of-town invaders, Adore the Gold and Xchanger, both stakes winners.
Adore the Gold is now the top-figure horse after winning his first two starts at Delaware Park for Michael Gorham. Unveiled in a $50,000 maiden-claiming sprint at six furlongs on Sept. 11, he won laughing with a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
"He ran real big, and since then he's been doing unbelievable," said Gorham. "He seems to improve every time he does something."
Second time out, Adore the Gold stretched out to win the 1 1/16-mile Dover Stakes and earned another excellent Beyer (90), while showing the ability to rate off the leaders.
Gorham said the postponement helps Adore the Gold, who will run on 13 days' rest.
"He came out of it excellent, and this is a good next step for him, a Grade 3 and a one-turn mile," said Gorham.
Xchanger, winner of the Grade 3 Sapling at Monmouth Park in his second start, drew post 2. Xchanger comes off a sixth-place finish in the Champagne Stakes.
Drawn outside the new shooters in post order are original entrants Cowtown Cat, Sightseeing, Trading Star, Pink Viper, Day Pass, and Sipsey. Among those, only Sipsey is not coming off a maiden win. He finished third in the Comet at the Meadowlands last out.
Day Pass overcame a tough trip to win his debut Oct. 7. He caught a break with the postponement, which allowed him an extra five days' rest.
Todd Pletcher said he felt Cowtown Cat was sitting on go for this race last Sunday. Cowtown Cat has been idle since winning his maiden Sept. 8 and earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.
Tempted favorites get better posts
With a field of five, the Grade 3 Tempted was slotted as race 3 Sunday and has the same spot on Friday's card. The field is the same, but the two strongest contenders, Five Star Daydream and Successful Outlook, were previously drawn in the two inside posts and may have caught a break at the re-draw when they moved outside to posts 4 and 5, respectively.
Five Star Daydream is stretching out to a mile off three straight sprint victories, the latest on Oct. 15, and she figures to benefit from the extra time. The same holds true for Spectacular Malibu, who won the Maryland Million Lassie on Oct. 14.
Completing the field are Changeisgonnacome, winner of the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson at Saratoga, and Tell It as It Is, who won her debut at Woodbine.