Magna Light, Sunny Ridge Meet Again in Nashua

Magna Light and Sunny Ridge, both runners-up in grade I races early in their still youthful careers, will renew their rivalry in the $200,000 Nashua Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 4, opening day at Aqueduct Racetrack.



The one-turn mile dirt event will be the third meeting between the two colts, who come into the race with four starts apiece.



Their first matchup was in the July 25 Sanford Stakes (gr. III) at Saratoga Race Course, when Magna Light crossed the wire first, but was disqualified to third after drifting out harshly then back in during the stretch run.



ANGST: Uncle Vinny Placed First in Sanford Stakes



Sunny Ridge ran seventh in the Sanford, but came back to beat his rival in the mile Champagne (gr. I) at Belmont Park, when the Holy Bull colt ran second to Greenpointcrusader.



LAMARRA: Greenpointcrusader Rallies to Take Champagne



Magna Light, a son of Magna Graduate  , finished seventh over sloppy footing in the Champagne but got his grade I placing a start earlier, when he ran a far-back second to Ralis in the Sept. 7 Hopeful (gr. I) at Saratoga.



Sail Ahoy, fourth in the Champagne, also returns to challenge in the Nashua. The rest of the field is made up of last-out winners at allowance and maiden special weight levels, including Jay's Way, River Dell, Pilot House, Mohaymen, and Flexibility.



Also on the opening-day card is the $200,000 Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at a mile for 2-year-old fillies. All six entrants are coming off victories, including Coffeepot Stables' Flora Dora, who broke her maiden at second asking in the Florida Sire My Dear Girl Stakes Oct. 3 at Gulfstream Park. Mark Dodson's graded stakes-placed Banree also won impressively in a six-furlong allowance at Keeneland last time out after three straight graded tries.