Five juvenile colts not quite up to the quality of the Breeders' Cup are signed on for Sunday's GIII Nashua S., being held this year at Belmont Park, and features runners based on either coast sent out by Hall of Fame conditioners.
Shug McGaughey has won the Nashua but once in his illustrious career, sending out the tempestuous Coronado's Quest (Forty Niner) back in 1997. Courtlandt Farms' Judge Davis (Distorted Humor) carries the hopes of the stable into the final graded event of the fall meet. A debut fourth behind subsequent GIII Iroquois S. hero Major General (Constitution) in a 6 1/2-furlong test on Saratoga debut Aug. 21, the $280,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase grad appreciated the extra two furlongs of a Sept. 21 Belmont maiden, settling kindly from third before boxing on determinedly to post a 3/4-length success.
“I think stretching him out in distance and getting that experience helped him,” McGaughey told the NYRA notes team. “I'd like to see how he does here and then start thinking about two turns.”
Rockfeller (Medaglia d'Oro), a $750,000 Keeneland September acquisition, turned in a smart debut effort over six furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 28, opening up by as many as five lengths into the final furlong before holding sway by 2 1/4 lengths. The son of GISW Dance to Bristol (Speightstown) prompted his 'TDN Rising Star' stablemate Corniche (Quality Road) through the opening six furlongs of the GI American Pharoah S. Oct. 1 at Santa Anita, but gave way in the final furlong to finish fourth, beaten seven lengths.
Midnight Worker (Outwork) opened his account at first asking in a modestly rated Saratoga maiden July 24 ahead of a third-place effort in Monmouth's one-mile Sapling S. Sept. 5. The Repole colorbearer was an even fourth trying the turf for the first time in the GIII Futurity S. Oct. 10 and could move forward with a return to the main track here.
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