Undefeated Jose Sea View, the only stakes winner in the field of the Nov. 3 Nashua Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack, will attempt to keep his record perfect when he races on dirt for the first time in the one-mile event.
Named for Nashua, the 1955 United States Horse of the Year, the $250,000 contest for 2-year-olds is the eighth race on the card and has an approximate post time of 3:43 p.m.
Trained by Reade Baker for owner/breeder Brereton C. Jones, Jose Sea View broke his maiden by a length in a six-furlong contest over Woodbine's synthetic track Aug. 11, followed by a 1 1/4-length score in the Sept. 26 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. The son of Badge of Silver, who won both races in front-running style, has career earnings of $92,601.
Jose Sea View's pedigree suggests he could stretch out to longer distances. Bred in Kentucky, he is out of the Prized mare Stirling Bridge, a two-time stakes victor at 1 1/16 miles. The bay gelding is also a half bother to Washington Bridge, winner of the of the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II).
Jose Sea View will carry top weight of 122 pounds in the Nashua, while all other contenders will tote 116. He will be ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, who piloted him to victory in his last two starts. The pair will break from post 7.
The 7-2 morning line favorite in the Nashua is Joseph Bucci's Manhattan Johnnie, who posted a 5 1/2-length victory in his only start, a six-furlong maiden special weight contested in the slop at Belmont Park Sept. 21. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Manhattan Johnnie will leave from post 11 with Jose Lezcano at the helm.
Cairo Prince makes his first start against winners in the Nashua.
In his lone start, the son of Pioneerof the Nile raced just off the early leader in second before claiming the lead approaching the quarter pole and driving clear to a 2 3/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Belmont Park Oct. 6.
Cairo Prince, owned by Paul Braverman and Namcook Stables, is out of stakes-winning sprinter Holy Bubbette.
"Nice horse," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin of Cairo Prince, a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling. "This is a big step up from a maiden win, but it seems like we do that all of the time with the young ones. He should get the distance. He's doing well and worked well (on Oct. 27, breezing four furlongs on Belmont's training track in 48.90)."
Protonico , who broke his maiden by a scintillating 12 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong outing at Delaware Park Sept. 7, is also worthy of consideration. By European Horse of the Year and three-time leading sire Giant's Causeway , he is out of the A.P. Indy mare Alpha Spirit.
Kentucky-bred Protonico is trained by Oussama Aboughazale for owner/breeder International Equities Holding. The dark bay or brown colt will be ridden for the second straight time by jockey Abel Castellano Jr. and will break from post 9.
Other Nashua contenders bringing some distance experience into the race include Intense Holiday, who broke his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths in a one-mile event at Monmouth Park Aug. 31, followed by a fifth in the Champagne (gr. I), also at a mile at Belmont Park; and Master Lightning, who scored a 1 3/4-length maiden victory in his second start, a 1 1/16-mile maiden contest at Belmont Oct. 5.
$250,000 Nashua Stakes (gr. II, approximate post time 3:43 p.m. EDT), 2YOs, one mile (dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. Louisiana Flyboy (LA), P Lopez, 116, C C Brown, 6-1
2. Intense Holiday (KY), J Castellano, 116, T A Pletcher, 6-1
3. Financial Mogul (KY), J L Ortiz, 116, R A Violette, Jr., 20-1
4. Tiznowforamerica (KY), I Ortiz, Jr., 116, T Albertrani, 20-1
5. Awesome Wildcat (PA), R Montanez, 116, G Preciado, 30-1
6. Noble Moon (VA), A O Solis116, L Gyarmati, 12-1
7. Jose Sea View (KY), E Wilson122, R Baker, 30-1
8. Master Lightning (PA), J R Velazquez, 116, T A Pletcher, 8-1
9. Protonico (KY), A Castellano, Jr., 116, O Aboughazale, 6-1
10. Grand Arrival (KY), J Bravo, 116, N P Zito, 15-1
11. Manhattan Johnnie (ON), J Lezcano, 116, E Kenneally, 7-2
12. Cairo Prince (KY), L Saez, 116, K P McLaughlin, 4-1