Bred for Turf, No Nay Hudson Imposing in Skidmore
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Photo: Coady Photography
No Nay Hudson captures his debut at Keeneland
Andrew Farm and For the People Racing Stable's No Nay Hudson will make his turf debut as he looks to give trainer Wesley Ward his third consecutive score in the $150,000 Skidmore Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for juveniles Aug. 19 at Saratoga Race Course.
Ward won the 2020 renewal with eventual dual Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal and followed last year with the filly Averly Jane .
The Skidmore is the finale on Friday's 10-race program, which also includes the $135,000 Summer Colony Stakes, a restricted stakes for older fillies and mares led by Army Wife , Bonny South , and Envoutante . That race, a 1 1/8-mile dirt event, is the eighth on the card.
No Nay Hudson, by the group 1-winning Ward trainee No Nay Never , posted a four-length debut win sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs in April at Keeneland and followed with a troubled fourth last out in the 5 1/2-furlong Tremont Stakes June 9 at Belmont Park.
No Nay Hudson is out of the graded stakes-winning Malibu Moon mare Raw Silk , who captured the 2008 Sands Point Stakes (G2T) at 1 1/8 miles over the Belmont turf.
Ward said No Nay Hudson has trained favorably over the Oklahoma training turf, including an Aug. 7 five-eighths breeze in 1:00.96. Hall of Famer John Velazquez was aboard No Nay Hudson, who went in company with group 2-winning colt Asymmetric , piloted by Luis Saez.
"Johnny V. worked him against a real nice 3-year-old last week named Asymmetric, who broke off a few lengths behind No Nay Hudson and tracked," Ward said. "Luis eased his horse out down the lane and came to Johnny on this colt, and then Johnny drew away."
Purchased in 2021 for $190,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the St George Sales consignment, No Nay Never has a preference for firm turf.
"Any give in the ground, he wouldn't care for that," Ward said. "We worked him on a soft course here at Keeneland, and he just didn't finish up like we expected. We're looking for sunshine on the day he runs."
The long-term forecast calls for partly cloudy skies Friday.
Velazquez will ride No Nay Hudson from post 4.
Trainer Chad Brown runs a pair of horses: Klaravich Stables' Appraise , who posted a head score in his July 22 debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, and Oxymore , a recent acquisition who joins his stable after a 6 1/2-length triumph July 1 at Belmont Park for then owner/trainer Adam Rice. Following a private purchase, Oxymore races for Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Morris Bailey, and William Rucker.
Trainer Mike Maker also runs a duo in Michael Hui's Fadethenoise , who drew off to a six-length score at second asking, and Three Diamonds Farm's Bourbon Therapy , a last-out maiden winner at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will send out Mike McCarty's Private Creed for his stakes debut after graduating at first asking in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden July 30 over the Ellis Park lawn.
Rounding out the field are Jeremy's Jet , Noble Huntsman , Prove Right , and Cadillac Candy .
Saratoga Race Course, Friday, August 19, 2022, Race 10Entries: Skidmore S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Jeremy's Jet (KY)
Jose Lezcano
122
Paul McEntee
30/1
2
2Fadethenoise (KY)
Flavien Prat
122
Michael J. Maker
8/1
3
3Oxymore (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
122
Chad C. Brown
9/5
4
4No Nay Hudson (IRE)
John R. Velazquez
122
Wesley A. Ward
4/1
5
5Private Creed (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
122
Steven M. Asmussen
10/1
6
6Noble Huntsman (NY)
Javier Castellano
122
Mitchell E. Friedman
12/1
7
7Prove Right (KY)
Trevor McCarthy
122
James K. Chapman
20/1
8
8Appraise (IRE)
Manuel Franco
122
Chad C. Brown
3/1
9
9Bourbon Therapy (KY)
Luis Saez
122
Michael J. Maker
20/1
10
10Cadillac Candy (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
122
George R. Arnold, II
15/1
