Nonna Madeline Cuts Back in Distance for Go for Wand

Teresa Viola Racing Stables and St. Elias Stable's Nonna Madeline cuts back to a mile for the  $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares Dec. 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Nonna Madeline sports a consistent record of 13-4-3-2 with purse earnings of $275,128. The 4-year-old Candy Ride  bay, bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, broke through in stakes company Aug. 5 when capturing the restricted Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Following an off-the-board effort in the nine-furlong Shuvee Stakes (G3) on Aug. 30 at the Spa, Nonna Madeline made amends with a nose score over Royal Flag in the 1 1/16-mile Lady's Secret Stakes Oct. 7 at Monmouth Park.

She enters from a prominent third-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Turnback the Alarm Stakes (G3), won Royal Flag Nov. 7 at the Big A.

"She shows up every time and runs hard every time, so I wouldn't expect her to do any different this time," said Pletcher. "It will be interesting backing her up from a mile and an eighth to a mile. She should appreciate that as well."

Pletcher will also saddle Whisper Hill Farm homebred Graceful Princess, a 4-year-old Tapit  bay who ran fifth last out in the Turnback the Alarm. She races with blinkers off.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will guide Nonna Madeline from the inside post, while Joel Rosario has the call on Graceful Princess from the outside, post 6.

Sharp Starr, bred in New York by the Stonewall Farm of owner Barry Schwartz, earned a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure last out with a 15 3/4-length local romp in a one-mile state-bred allowance Nov. 7.

Trained by Horacio DePaz, the 3-year-old Munnings  dark bay graduated July 2 at fourth asking in a one-turn mile against state-bred maidens at Belmont Park in her second start back off a layoff caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sharp Starr then tried a pair of nine-furlong events at Saratoga over the summer, finishing third in a state-bred allowance even July 22 ahead of a closing third in the restricted Fleet Indian Stakes Sept. 4. Following an off-the-board effort in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course, DePaz said Sharp Starr appreciated the cutback in distance last out.

"After the Black-Eyed Susan, I thought maybe I wasn't reading the filly right but she came back with a very honest effort back at Aqueduct," said DePaz. "I thought maybe we could redeem ourselves and maybe she really takes to the one turn."

The 35-year-old DePaz, in search of his first graded stakes win, said a big effort from Sharp Starr this weekend would be very meaningful.

"It would be great and I'd be very happy for Barry," said DePaz. "We've had her since she was a 2-year-old and got her started. I've tried to manage and maintain her. It would be really exciting considering how tough this year has been for everybody and also because it's my first year coming full time to New York."

Jose Ortiz, aboard for the maiden win and Fleet Indian efforts, is up from post 3.

Rounding out the field are Ten Strike Racing's Portal Creek, Dark Horse Racing Stable's Overheated, and Michael Dubb, Coyle Boys Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Bethlehem Stables' Stand for the Flag.

Entries: Go for Wand H. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, December 05, 2020, Race 6

• Grade III
• 1m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:07 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Nonna Madeline (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Todd A. Pletcher	4/5
2	2Portal Creek (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	117	Juan Carlos Guerrero	8/1
3	3Sharp Starr (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	116	Horacio DePaz	3/2
4	4Overheated (KY)	Dylan Davis	115	Raymond Handal	50/1
5	5Stand for the Flag (KY)	Manuel Franco	117	Rob Atras	8/1
6	6Graceful Princess (KY)	Joel Rosario	117	Todd A. Pletcher	12/1