Judge Davis Takes First Aim at Stakes in Nashua

Earlier than his connections think about sending him two turns, Courtlandt Farms’ Judge Davis  will take on five other juveniles in the $150,000 Nashua Stakes (G3) Nov. 7 going a one-turn mile at Belmont Park.

Educated by Shug McGaughey, who saddled 1997 Nashua victor Coronado’s Quest, Choose Davis arrives off a three-quarter size maiden triumph at second asking. The Distorted Humor   colt made amends from a distant fourth going 6 1/2 furlongs on debut when stretching out to 1 1/16 miles Sept. 24 over a muddy main track at Belmont.

Cairama  will attempt to parlay a first out winning effort into stakes company for trainer Steve Asmussen. Owned by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Mishal Al Saud, he led through every point of call and held off a late confrontation to win by a head in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden Sept. 17 at Belmont.

The son of 2013 Nashua winner Cairo Prince   has sold twice through the ring, most recently for $525,000 to Narvick International out of the Harris Training Center draft at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher will saddle Repole Stable’s Midnight Worker  who returns to the main track after trying the turf when fourth in the Futurity Stakes (G3T) last out. The Outwork   colt was a 10-1 winner of his July 24 debut at Saratoga Race Course forward of a 3rd within the Sapling Stakes Sept. 5 at Monmouth Park. He was purchased for $60,000, with West Bloodstock as agent, from Brookdale Gross sales’ consignment to the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale.

Pletcher will try his fourth Nashua rating, beforehand saddling Bluegrass Cat  (2005), Violence   (2012), and Blofeld   (2014).

Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Midnight Worker from post 4.

Rockefeller  will take a drop in class and cut back to one turn after finishing fourth in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) five weeks ago at Santa Anita Park for Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert. The blue-blooded son of Medaglia d’Oro   is out of the grade 1-winning Speightstown   mare Dance to Bristol  and was bought for $750,000 by agent Donato Lanni out of the Mill Ridge Sales’ consignment to the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He dazzled on debut going wire-to-wire in a six-furlong maiden special weight Aug. 28 at Del Mar.

Rockefeller is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, and Robert Masterson. He might be ridden by Corridor of Famer John Velazquez from put up 1.

Finishing the sector are Holly Crest Farm New Jersey homebred Speaking  (post 3, Gerardo Corrales), winner of the Sept. 26 Smoke Glacken Stakes at Monmouth for trainer Eddie Owens Jr.; and Cheyenne Stables’ Cooke Creek  (post 5, Manny Franco), who took the Oct. 16 Rocky Run Stakes (non-black-type) at Delaware Park for coach Jeremiah O’Dwyer. Each are unbeaten in two begins.

Earlier on the cardboard seven fillies and mares will line as much as race 1 1/2 miles on the Widener turf course within the $150,000 Zagora Stakes, together with graded stakes winners Orglandes  and Always Shopping .