Weaver could pull into Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint with a triple
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No Nay Mets, winner of last Saturday’s Rosie’s Stakes at Colonial Downs, gives trainer George Weaver a third candidate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita, joining Royal Ascot winner Crimson Advocate and Amidst Waves.
“It’d be nice to have three live horses for three different categories instead of three live horses for the same race, but it’s better than having no live horses,” Weaver said Wednesday.
No Nay Mets, owned in part by Houston Astros star Alex Bregman, improved his record to three wins from four starts, the only loss coming in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“The horse needs to be sent on his way, cut the pace, and let them try to catch him,” Weaver said, noting that wasn’t the trip he got in England. “He’s clearly come back and shown he’s better than what he showed over there.”
Crimson Advocate won the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot in June for Weaver and, barring a change of heart, will simply train up to the Juvenile Turf Sprint, Weaver said Wednesday. Weaver had previously said he would consider a start before then, but that will likely not be the case.
“I think our best shot is to lead her in there fresh,” Weaver said.
However, Amidst Waves, who won the Bolton Landing Stakes on Aug. 20 at Saratoga for her third consecutive win on turf, will likely start in the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron at Aqueduct on Oct. 8 leading into the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
“With the other two, I think they’ve established their Breeders’ Cup credentials and I don’t want to take a shot that she might not get in,” Weaver said. “She can be a little bit on the nervous side so it may not be a good idea going into the race too fresh.”
Isaac Castillo to try New York full-time
Jockey Isaac Castillo has moved his tack to New York and will begin riding here full-time starting with Thursday’s opening-day card.
Castillo rode seven mounts at the end of the Saratoga meet and is hoping by coming to New York now, he’ll build up some momentum heading into the winter meet.
Last winter, Castillo was the fourth leading rider at Oaklawn Park with 48 wins. He rode this summer at Monmouth Park, where his 22 wins tied him for seventh in the standings.
In the summer of 2022, Castillo recorded a six-win day (July 2) and a five-win day (May 29) at Monmouth Park.
Castillo is named on two horses both Thursday and Friday for trainer David Jacobson.
Castillo is represented by agent Bill Castle.
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