CD Photo

​Private Desire puts skills to the test in $150K Nashua

by Ryan Martin

Following a sharp maiden triumph at second asking, Stephen Brunetti, Jr.’s Private Desire will face stakes company for the first time in Sunday’s 49th running of the listed $150,000 Nashua for juveniles going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, a three-time Nashua winner, Private Desire registered a 94 Beyer Speed Figure from his last out maiden conquest on September 16 at Belmont at the Big A. There, the son of Constitution broke sharply from his outermost post 7 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano and engaged with post time favorite Hurricane Nelson on the front end. He took command midway down the backstretch with Hurricane Nelson switching leads to his outside in attempt to re rally, but Private Desire kicked clear to victory and completed the distance in 1:16.68.

The effort came one start after a fourth-place finish on debut on July 29 at Saratoga, which saw its winner Seize the Grey finish third in the next out Skidmore at the Spa.

Rick Sacco, racing manager for the Brunetti family, said they had thought about trying their talented juvenile in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 7 during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet, but decided to give the horse more time between races.

“After running the type of race he ran last out you get a bit excited, but the proper thing to do was to wait,” Sacco said. “The timing for the Champagne wasn’t right. About 72 hours after the race, we zeroed in on the Nashua. It’s the perfect distance, we get to stay at Belmont and train and van over and run. We wanted to give him the right timing, the right distance. It’s the right next step forward.”

Private Desire breezed an easy five furlongs over the Belmont training track on October 29, covering the distance in 1:04.63. Ten days earlier, he went the same distance in 1:01.42.

Sacco described Private Desire’s last breeze as “keen”.

“He benefitted from the breeze,” Sacco said. “We haven’t run since September 16, and this is two five-eighths mile breezes we’ve put into him. He got a good blow out of the breeze. He came out of it perfect and we’re all systems go.”

Private Desire will leave from post 3 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who has been aboard the horse in both of his starts.

“We’re pleased that Javier is going to come back after the Breeders’ Cup to ride the Sunday card,” Sacco said. “After the Saratoga race, Javier was very positive. He told Todd that he’s very nice horse and he wanted to ride him back.”

Atlantic Six Racing’s unbeaten dual stakes-winner Book’em Danno [post 2, Jose Ortiz] will return to action following a 6 1/2-length romp in the off-the-turf Futurity going six furlongs on October 8 at Belmont at the Big A. The Derek Ryan-trained son of Bucchero defeated his New Jersey-bred counterparts on August 12 going 5 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park before defeating open stakes company in the September 9 Smoke Glacken at the Jersey Shore oval.

Happy Tenth Stable’s Yo Yo Candy [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche] will try to make amends after a 10th-place finish in the Grade 1 Hopeful on September 4 at Saratoga. The California-bred son of Danzing Candy was a 46-1 upset winner of the Grade 3 Sanford on July 15 at the Spa following a distant third in the Tremont on June 11 at Belmont Park.

Completing the field are second-out maiden winner Billal [post 1, Junior Alvarado] for Hall of Famer Bill Mott and the Rick Dutrow, Jr.-trained stakes-placed Where’s Chris [post 4, Isaac Castillo].

The Nashua is carded as Race 3 on Sunday’s nine-race program, which also features the $150,000 Tempted and a re-scheduled edition of the $135,000 Pumpkin Pie. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern. 

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.