Field of eight juveniles set for stakes debut in $150K Tremont

by Mary Eddy

Andrew Farm and For the People Racing Stable’s No Nay Hudson highlights a field of eight maiden winners who will make their first stakes appearance in Thursday’s $150,000 Tremont for juveniles sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the main track at Belmont Park.

Trained by Wesley Ward, the Irish-bred No Nay Hudson was an impressive debut winner sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs over a fast Keeneland main track on April 28 with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in the irons. The son of No Nay Never made the lead from post 7 and improved his margins at every point of call to win by four lengths in a final time of 51.92 seconds.

“He’s certainly speedy,” said Ward. “He’s done everything right since his race, before the race and in the race.”

No Nay Hudson breezed five furlongs in 1:06.40 on May 20 over a good Keeneland turf course in his first work back from the victory as a potential prep for a trip overseas. Ward rerouted the colt to the Tremont after his work showed he was not ready for soft turf.

“We worked him over the soft turf at Keeneland because we had aspirations to go to England with him and he kind of faltered on the soft turf,” said Ward. “More often than not, that’s what you’re going to get over at Ascot. So, we opted to keep him on the dirt. If grass is on his horizon, it’ll be later on.”

Out of the graded stakes winning Malibu Moon mare Raw Silk, No Nay Hudson was a $190,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Tailor’s Row.

Velazquez has the call again from post 4.

Celeritas Racing and trainer Rudy Rodriguez’s Valenzan Day enters the Tremont as the only horse to have run at Belmont, sprinting five furlongs on May 12 over a fast Big Sandy in his victorious debut.

The chestnut son of Khozan, ridden by Luis Saez, sprung a mild upset when racing a half-length off the pace and closing in the two-path to duel with Ever a Rebel and inch away to a 2 1/4-length victory. He earned a field-best 76 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

Valenzan Day had been working steadily at Belmont since March and most recently posted a half-mile drill in 49.02 seconds on May 26 over the main track.

“He was OK [in the morning.] But there's a lot of horses who do really good in the morning but then in the afternoon you don't find them,” Rodriguez said. “When they show in the afternoon what they do in the morning, it's a plus.

“He came out of the race good and is progressing,” added Rodriguez. “We'll keep our fingers crossed.”

The $15,000 OBS March purchase will break from post 5 with Joel Rosario aboard.

Heehaw Racing’s Zelenskyy Strong was a visually impressive debut winner on April 22 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Peter Walder, setting the pace in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden and drawing away under Emisael Jaramillo to win by 10 3/4 lengths.

The Uncaptured colt shipped to Belmont after his win and has recorded two works over the main track, including a tidy half-mile in 48.75 seconds on May 26. Zelenskyy Strong is the eighth foal out of the stakes-winning Put It Back mare Deposit Only, making him a half-brother to graded stakes winner Jackson. He was a $40,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 OBS October Sale.

Zelenskyy Strong will emerge from post 8 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up.

Brian Lynch trainee Two of a Kind, a full brother to Grade 3 placed Psychoanalyze, won his May 4 debut at Churchill Downs for owners K and R Racing Stable and Town Branch Racing by 3 3/4 lengths over fast going.

The son of Overanalyze led each step of the way after a sharp start and widened his lead at each pole, coming home in a final time of 57.96 seconds. He earned a 71 Beyer for the effort.

Luis Saez will be tasked with the ride from post 7.

Rounding out the field are Putthepastbehind [post 3, Jeiron Barbosa] for trainer Nicholas Sideris; Stayhonor Goodside [post 1, Dylan Davis] for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse; Chad Summers trainee Little J P [post 2, Dexter Haddock]; and Bisping [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche] for new conditioner Rob Atras.

The Tremont, which honors the Frank McCabe trainee who went 13-for-13 as a juvenile in 1886, is slated as Race 8 on Thursday’s nine-race card. First post is 3:05 p.m. Eastern.

Thursday kicks off the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which is highlighted by the lucrative Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets card that will feature eight Grade 1 races on June 11. 

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.