Studlydoright. (Coglianese/NYRA)
By Brian Bohl
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – David Hughes’ Studlydoright already has become a stakes veteran as a 2-year-old. On Saturday, he registered his second victory against that class by overtaking pacesetter Tony Eclipse from the outside in the final furlong for a victory by a half-length in the Listed $150,000 Nashua, a one-turn mile for juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A.
Studlydoright, a Grade 3-placed Nyquist colt thanks to a runner-up effort in the Sanford in July at Saratoga Race Course, recorded his second stakes win, adding to his score in the Listed Tremont in June at the Spa. He has three wins overall in six starts for trainer John “Jerry” Robb.
Robb added blinkers to his charge, who broke well from the third post under jockey Xavier Perez and tracked Tony Eclipse, who led the five-horse field through fractions of 22.95 seconds, 46.41 and 1:11.28 over the fast main track.
Tony Eclipse, under jockey Jevian Toledo, maintained the lead out of the turn and stayed near the rail, maintaining the edge when straightened for home.
But Perez used right-handed encouragement and kept Studlydoright to task, allowing him to overtake Tony Eclipse and fend off a charging Vekoma Rides to his outside to complete the course in a 1:37.23 final time.
Vekoma Rides, trained by John Kimmel and ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, bested Tony Eclipse by a nose for runner-up honors. It’s Hammertime, the 4-5 favorite, finished fourth, while the filly Whatintheliteral was eased to the finish.
Off at 7-2, Studlydoright paid $9.80 on a $2 win wager. He improved his career earnings to $264,680.
“He’s been sprinting all year, and he usually comes from behind,” Robb said. “I was very happy where he was sitting today. I think the farther the better for him. When he’s sprinting, he has that one move with everybody backing up to him but in these races, he’s going to be close all the time, so the longer, the better.”
Perez said a ground-saving trip helped utilize his horse’s closing kick.
“The plan was to let the two [Tony Eclipse] and the four [It’s Hammertime] go in front, but the four kind of broke a little step slow and the two went with the one [Whatintheliteral],” Perez said. “I just dove to the rail. I just wanted to save as much ground as I could. I saw a little seam inside the one and I took it. When I took the lead from the number two, I just let him relax, and he switched leads by himself. I saw Kendrick on the outside, I started working on him, he is a big horse that takes a while to get going. But when he switched leads in the stretch and I got to working, he gave me everything he had, and we got the job done.”
STUDLYDORIGHT, the 2YO son of @DarleyAmerica stallion Nyquist, wins the Nashua Stakes with Xavier Perez aboard for trainer Jerry Robb. pic.twitter.com/VhVgtdaaNQ
— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 2, 2024
Vekoma Rides, making just his third start, was an impressive five-length debut winner in September at the Big A before running fifth in the Grade 1 Champagne last out in October at the same track. The Nashua marked the first stakes black type for the Vekoma colt.
“It was a perfect trip – just could never get to him,” Carmouche said. “This horse still ran a little spotty. He is still young. He has room for improvement. Hopefully, his 3-year-old year will be a little bit better.”
Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race card at the Belmont at the Big A featuring three separate $150,000 stakes contested on the main track, highlighted by the nine-furlong Listed Turnback the Alarm in Race 2; the Listed Pumpkin Pie in Race 6; and the Discovery in Race 8. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.
