Nagirroc got up late to win the GIII Futurity S. at Aqueduct Sunday and earn an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The 7-2 shot sat just in behind the battling Gaslight Dancer and Vacation Dance who contested the pace through fractions of :22.09 and :44.78. Tipped out four wide into the lane, he reeled in the pacesetters in the dying strides to just get the best of a blanket finish.
“The main thing was trying to break clean,” said winning rider Manny Franco. “That was what we did, and after that, I don't want my horse to do too much [going] six furlongs. I think the speed is good on the outer track. My horse pulled me right into the race behind the speed and I think that was the key.”
Ian Wilson, assistant to winning trainer Graham Motion, added, “Last time, he was on the lead and we didn't feel like he needed to be on the lead [today]. Manny got him settled behind horses and once he got some space to go, he went. Once he tipped him out and got somewhere to go, it seemed like he was moving well and moving comfortably. He got there and that's all that matters.”
Nagirroc closed to second in his five-furlong debut over the turf at Indianapolis Horseshoe Aug. 22 for owners Corrigan Racing Stable and Tom Campbell and trainer Jim Corrigan. He came back to break his maiden over the Futurity's course and distance in his first start for trainer Graham Motion and new owners Madaket Stables, Little Red Feather Racing and William Strauss.
“In his first start, which wasn't for us, he broke pretty poorly and it probably cost him,” said Wilson. “So, last race, we wanted Manny to get him out of the gate. Today, we weren't as worried. He showed professionalism from start to finish. He's a classy horse.”
Pedigree Notes:
Nagirroc has a weanling half-sister by More Than Ready. His dam, Emma Spencer, was bred back to Audible this year. The mare is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-placed Johann Strauss (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Group 1-placed Mythical (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and graded-placed Inchargeofme (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Nagirroc is the third graded winner for Claiborne stallion Lea, who has also been represented by last year's GIII Turnback the Alarm H. winner Gibberish and 2020 GIII Ontario Colleen S. winner Chart. He is the sire of 10 stakes winners.
Sunday, Belmont at the Big A
FUTURITY S.-GIII, $150,000, Belmont at the Big A, 10-9, 2yo, 6fT, 1:09.36, fm.
1–NAGIRROC, 120, c, 2, by Lea
1st Dam: Emma Spencer (Ire), by Zamindar
2nd Dam: Inchmina (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire)
3rd Dam: Incheni (Ire), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Little Red Feather Racing & William
Strauss; B-Chervenell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-H. Graham
Motion; J-Manuel Franco. $82,500. Lifetime Record:
3-2-1-0, $141,550. Werk Nick Rating: B
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gaslight Dancer, 120, c, 2, City of Light–Raindrops
Droptops, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST
GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($80,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $260,000
2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Paradise Farms Corp., David
Staudacher, Skychai Racing LLC & Angelo Carlesimo;
B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Michael J. Maker. $30,000.
3–Vacation Dance, 120, c, 2, The Lieutenant–Matinee
Express, by Zensational. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED
BLACK TYPE. ($45,000 Ylg '21 EASOCT; $140,000 RNA 2yo
'22 OBSMAR; $90,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Sleeping Giant
Stables, LLC, America's Pastime Stables & KimDon Racing,
LLC; B-Harry Landry & James Hogan (NY); T-John C. Kimmel.
$18,000.
Margins: NK, HD, HD. Odds: 3.60, 1.75, 11.50.
Also Ran: Inflation Nation (Ire), Dunedin, Determined Jester, Power Attack. Scratched: Bourbon Therapy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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