Nutella Fella, the upset winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, is attempting another comeback.

Unraced since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 True North at Saratoga on June 7, Nutella Fella is being pointed to the Grade 3, $175,000 Bold Ruler Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 2. On Saturday at Saratoga, Nutella Fella worked a half-mile in 49.02 seconds over the Oklahoma training track, his fourth work since Sept. 20.

Trainer Gary Contessa said that Nutella Fella emerged from the True North with a foot abscess “that was deep embedded in his foot.”

Mo Plex, the Grade 3 Ohio Derby winner who finished seventh in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20, is targeting either the $250,000 Empire Classic on Oct. 25 or the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes for 3-year-olds for his next start, trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Monday.

Englehart said the decision would come down to whichever he felt like was the “lighter race.”

The Empire Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles, is restricted to New York-breds but means facing older horses. The Dwyer, a one-turn mile, would give Mo Plex another chance to run in a race restricted to 3-year-olds.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer George Weaver, based primarily in Saratoga, is considering as many as four horses for Breeders’ Cup races.

Dorth Vader, beaten a nose by Thorpedo Anna, in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, is pointing to the $2 million Distaff. She worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds on Oct. 6 and is likely to have one more work in Saratoga before shipping to Del Mar on Oct. 22.

The remainder of Weaver’s contingent would not ship until Oct. 26, in part because he wants more clarity on whether they get into their respective races.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Frost gave way to fog, which ultimately gave way to bright sunshine and blue skies Friday morning in time for trainer Todd Pletcher to work three of his potential four Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders on a crisp morning in Saratoga.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Richard Mandella took a conservative outlook regarding his chances in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Sunday, a day after Tamara easily won her 2025 debut in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita.

“I’ll have two good chances,” he said.

Make that two magnificent chances, or perhaps even great ones.

Tamara will be joined in the race by the three-time graded stakes winner Kopion, who was brilliant in winning the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs in May.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Before he reaches the gate as an outsider in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1, the Uruguyan import Touch of Destiny will have had a stern introduction to American racing.

Touch of Destiny has been an occasional workmate of the star 3-year-old Journalism in recent weeks at Santa Anita.

Unbeaten in six starts in Uruguay, Touch of Destiny is now based with trainer Michael McCarthy at Santa Anita. A 3-year-old colt, Touch of Destiny earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Dirt Mile with a win in a Group 3 stakes at a mile in Uruguay in June.

ARCADIA, Calif. – There are five-figure carryovers in four bets at Santa Anita on Friday.

The $2 pick six starts in the fourth race with a carryover of $45,583 from Sunday. Bettors are likely to add more than $300,000 to the pool. In Friday’s ninth race, there is a carryover of $35,706 in the $1 Super High Five, which requires the selection of the first five finishers in order.

Two other wagers that have carryovers include races from Gulfstream Park in Florida. The two tracks are both owned by 1/ST Racing.