![]() ![]() The Beldame, traditionally held around one turn at Belmont Park, will be a two-turn event this year at Aqueduct. The Beldame will be Nest’s first start at Aqueduct since her juvenile season finale, when capturing the Grade 2 Demoiselle by a neck over next-out winner and New York-bred Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Venti Valentine. “Hopefully, she runs well here and it sets her up well for the Distaff.” “We weren’t a hundred percent sure if we wanted to give her another start between the Alabama and the Breeders’ Cup, but we felt that 11 weeks was a bit too much,” Pletcher said. Pletcher said he had considered training Nest up to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on November 5 at Keeneland. She’s done great and I think that was reflected in her performances at Saratoga.” She gained weight and got bigger and stronger. “She came out of it as well or even better than any horse we’ve run in the Belmont before. “I’ve run a lot of horses in the Belmont over the years and she’s the first that’s seemed to really thrive from it,” Pletcher. Pletcher said he was highly impressed with how well Nest bounced out of the Belmont Stakes. “She showed a lot of talent and class in her races against 3-year-olds and we would expect her to handle the step up.” “She’s run well against the boys and all the best fillies of her generation, but first time against elders is always a challenge,” said Pletcher. Pletcher currently shares the winningest record in the Beldame with mentor and fellow Hall of Famer D. Nest will seek to be the sixth Beldame victress for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who captured the prestigious race with Hall of Famer Ashado, as well as with Fleet Indian, Unbridled Belle, Life At Ten and Princess of Sylmar. Prior to the Belmont, she was second beaten two lengths to Secret Oath in the Kentucky Oaks, and captured the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland by 8 1/4 lengths. Nest’s pair of triumphs in Saratoga’s most prestigious races for sophomore fillies came following a game effort against males in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, where she finished second behind stablemate and fellow Repole Stable color bearer Mo Donegal. She drew off to a 4 1/4-length victory over Secret Oath, producing a 99 Beyer. Despite stumbling at the start of the next-out Alabama, Nest was able to secure her desired forward position before making a sweeping move around the far turn under her own power. ![]()
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