Nehro, runner-up in the 2011 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) but unraced since finishing fourth in that year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I), made a successful return to the races this afternoon at Fair Grounds when he dominated a one-mile and seventy yards allowance optional claiming race to win by six lengths.
Sent off as the heavy favorite at 2-5 under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, Nehro got off to a clean start and settled off the pace in fourth early on as Majestic Harbor and Stinking Creek set the good pace while while clear of the field. Adirondack King was sitting in third, while Big Town and Only Boy trailed.
Following fractions of :23.38 and :47.17, Adirondack King and Nehro began to close the large gap separating them from the two runaway leaders. Only Boy was beginning to advance on the far outside as well. Rounding the far turn, Nehro shifted into the three path to get a clear run at Majestic Harbor, who was still going strongly on the front end after running three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.72.
However, when Nehro was asked for run by Bridgmohan, the question became not who would win, but how much would Nehro win by. With powerful strides, the colt pulled away from his opposition, and after a couple of taps from the whip, strode home unchallenged to win by six, possibly seven lengths. The final time was 1:41.88.
Majestic Harbor finished clearly second best, followed by Adirondack Express, Only Boy, Big Town, and Stinking Creek. The winner is trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by Zayat Stables.
-Keelerman
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