Nagirroc Punches Breeders' Cup Ticket in Futurity

Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, and William Strauss' Nagirroc  built on a promising maiden victory when winning his first attempt at stakes level in the Oct. 9 Futurity Stakes (G3T) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs over the outer turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Now 2-for-2 for trainer Graham Motion and his ownership group, Nagirroc earned a "Win and You're In" entry into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) in capturing the 132nd running of the $150,000 Futurity Stakes.

Nagirroc left post 2 in good order and established close position in fourth along the rail as New York-bred maiden winner Vacation Dance  recorded an opening quarter-mile of :22.09 over the firm going, with 8-5 favorite Gaslight Dancer  matching strides to his outside. Franco made a three-wide move in the upper stretch as Vacation Dance ran the half in :44.78. 

At the top of the stretch, Vacation Dance and Gaslight Dancer continued to do battle, with a rallying Nagirroc gaining with every stride. Nagirroc gained the advantage from Gaslight Dancer just past the sixteenth pole to win by a nose in 1:09.36. 

Motion's assistant trainer Ian Wilson said he was impressed with the stalking effort.

"He did exactly what we wanted. Last time, he was on the lead and we didn't feel like he needed to be on the lead (today)," Wilson said. "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."

King Cause Goes Wire to Wire in Knickerbocker Stakes

Nice Guys Stables' King Cause  may have been the oldest horse in a field of 10, but the 7-year-old son of Creative Cause   pulled off a 15-1 upset. He landed his first graded stakes victory for trainer Mike Maker in the $150,000 Knickerbocker (G3T) for 3-year-olds and up traveling nine furlongs over the inner turf at Aqueduct.

Ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, King Cause made his 33rd start in the Knickerbocker, coming in off a close second in a Sept. 14 handicap at Kentucky Downs. The win was his third this year, adding to an optional-claiming score two starts back at Del Mar and a stakes win over synthetic in the Kentucky Cup Classic in April at Turfway Park.  

Breaking sharply from post 4, King Cause was rushed up to the front by Carmouche to establish command exiting the chute, claiming a length advantage over last year's Queen's Plate winner, Safe Conduct , with multiple graded stakes winner Pixelate  in third through an opening quarter-mile in :25.33 over the firm turf. 

The field bunched up into the first turn, causing Eons  to steady, but King Cause remained well clear to lead to the half-mile call in :50.90. With the field separating more down the backstretch, Safe Conduct and Pixelate inched closer as Field Pass  was ready to make his move on the outside from fourth. King Cause came under light coaxing from Carmouche through three-quarters in 1:14.87 and began to draw away from his rivals, maintaining a steady rhythm rounding the final turn. 

King Cause, under righthanded encouragement, sprinted down the lane with a clear advantage and held off the all-out duo of Pixelate and Safe Conduct, posting the two-length victory in 1:50.06. 

Steve Spielman of Nice Guys Stables said he believed in his horse. 

"He was in good form and his numbers fit here. We thought he had a good shot," said Spielman. "He's had some bad racing luck, but the horse always puts a good effort in. He likes to be on the front end and he got the right trip and Kendrick did a great job. He got the right fractions and he's tough when he's on the lead at the top of the stretch."

Spielman said King Cause is no stranger to beating the odds, recalling how the dark bay overcome an illness that almost claimed his life after a win at Saratoga in August 2020. 

"He ships well. He's an amazing horse. He got real sick a while back and we saved his life. He was out for over a year and he's paid us back in spades," said Spielman. "I've got to thank Burleson Farm for putting all this time into keeping this horse alive. He had a rare infection that they couldn't get rid of. It was right after the Saratoga race. This horse has come back and rewarded us. He's the gift that keeps giving."

Bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones, King Cause banked $82,500 in victory, boosting his earnings to $601,228. He returned $32.80.