Nest Returns With Solid Win in Shuvee

The marquee matchup for July 23 at Saratoga Race Course featured two heavyweights of the distaff set.

Clairiere  vs. Nest  in the $186,000 Shuvee Stakes (G2).

In the end, it wasn't really a fight at all.

Nest, owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, showed she wore no rust from an eight-month layoff. The Todd Pletcher-trained 4-year-old looked like she was in peak form as she and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. charged down the Spa stretch and won the 1 ⅛-mile Shuvee by an emphatic 2¼ lengths.

Stonestreet Stables LLC's 5-year-old mare Clairiere, who came into the race as the undisputed leader of the older female division off a pair of Grade 1 wins, was no match.

There were 45 members of co-owner Mike Repole's entourage hooting and hollering as they entered the winner's circle. There were also people from Aron Wellman's Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners who spilled into the enclosure, making for a cozy gathering around Nest, who didn't turn a hair or make a fuss as her people were doing just that about her.

There had been plenty of concern from Pletcher and the owners about Nest tackling Clairiere in her return to the races, as well there should have been.

Clairiere, trained by Steve Asmussen, came into this razor sharp and went off as the 3-5 favorite. Nest, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2022, won five of eight last year, including two romps at the Spa in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) by 12¼ lengths and the Alabama Stakes (G1) by 4 ¼ lengths .

The layoff, though, that was the unknown. How would Nest respond?

"I was very concerned," Repole said after shaking more hands than a politician. "You have to be. Our goal is the end of the year. This was the one she had to get tight. She had to get ready.  For her to win like this ... they could have gone around two more times and Clairiere was not going to catch her."

Pletcher was cautiously optimistic heading into this because Nest had come back with solid training after missing a month early in the year because of a lung infection.

But the Hall of Famer was also wary of putting Nest in against Clairiere with so much time away from the races. No need to worry. Nest was on her game.

"I have so much respect for Clairiere and I know how good she is," Pletcher said. "The race is never over. You can feel like you have a two-length lead and she just keeps coming at you. I was watching her intently and knowing she was going to make a big run at her."

Nest, the second choice at 4-5, took the lead easily from pacesetter Pistol Liz Ablazen  and jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who had set fractions of 24.87, 49.87 and 1:14.43. 

The tepid pace did not help Clairiere, who does her best running late. When Nest spurted away from Pistol Liz Ablazen midway through the turn, Clairiere took up the chase.

Ortiz opted to duck inside for the run down the stretch. She found another gear and won the race going away.

"When I turned for home, I just let her go," said Ortiz, who never had to go to the whip. "She finished great all the way to the wire."

A lack of pace certainly didn't help Clairiere.

"She needed to do more early and get involved," Asmussen said. 

Nest, like Clairiere, is a daughter of two-time Horse of the YearCurlin  . She completed the Shuvee in 1:50.72 and paid $3.70. Rigney Racing LLC's Skratch Kat  finished 10 lengths behind Clairiere for trainer Philip Bauer and jockey Tyler Gaffalione. It was another 9 3/4 lengths to Pistol Liz Ablazen, owned by Cash is King LLLC and LC Racing LLC and trained by Butch Reid, Jr.

"I am just super proud of the filly," Pletcher said of Nest. "She's all class and it's nice to see her come back and get back on track." 

Nest last raced in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland on Nov. 5 and finished fourth.

The next goal for her could be the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 25. Repole and Pletcher say that is the likely spot. Repole, though, added some gas to the fire when asked about the possibility of Nest facing males this year.

"Right now, it's 90% Personal Ensign, but I can't say the door is closed," Repole said. "This is not going to be her best start of the year, it might be her worst. She is going to get better off this. That is what is scary and that is what gets me excited."

Repole said he will kick around the idea with Pletcher and co-owners Welman and House about the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Sept. 2 at Saratoga, but it might be a light boot.

"It's a Grade 1 and I can't say it's crazy," Repole said. "If she did not have the long, long, long long, long, long, long layoff, I think it would be a very interesting race."

Video: Shuvee S. (G2)