The Nerud – (Grade lll)

Purse $175.00 – For Four Year Olds And Upward

6 Furlongs – Dirt

Aqueduct – May 9, 2026

The 13th running of The Nerud brings together seven experienced sprinters in a race that has long served as a résumé booster for proven runners. Every winner of this stakes since 2015 had already captured a graded stakes victory earlier in their career. Previously known as the Belmont Sprint Championship, the Nerud underwent a notable change last year when the distance was shortened from seven furlongs to six furlongs. Gorilla Glue adapted perfectly to the shorter trip, winning last year’s renewal in a sharp 1:08.69. D J C Racing Stables and Maxmillion Farm are currently tied atop the trainer standings with two wins apiece, though D J C has a chance to move ahead outright with an entrant in this year’s field. From graded stakes winners to rising allowance runners, this year’s edition has all the ingredients to produce another competitive renewal. Let’s take a deep dive into the contenders!

1. Glee – (Night Rider Stables, K. Carmouche) Claimed last year for a bargain $7.50 and had an allowance and graded stakes win since. This son of Supercomplication showed major improvement for Night Rider Stables following the addition of Bute and a shadow roll. First off, the claim, Glee captured an N1X allowance at Parx going six furlongs, then backed up that effort with in-the-money finishes in the Phoenix and Forego Stakes. He ended 2025 with a win in the Kennedy Road in the mud, which gave him his first graded stakes. Glee couldn’t get the job done in his last start as the favorite at Gulfstream Park, which makes me hesitant to back him in this spot.

2. Only Way Is Up – (The Sidley Stud, M. Franco) Has plenty of stakes experience since being claimed in June 2024. Only Way Is Up scored his most recent victory last summer in the Kellys Landing Stakes against a solid group before ending his 2025 season in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Drawn widest of all in post eleven, he was up against it from the start in such a deep field. The Florida-bred has raced twice this year, finishing second at Santa Anita Park before delivering a relatively flat effort in the Fleet Sprint Handicap. Based on his previous races, he appears most effective when forwardly placed or controlling the pace early. Expect him to be on the lead.

3. Super Powers – (La Canada Racehorses, Jam. Rodriguez) An ultra-consistent gelding who has only been out of the money five times in his past fifteen races. He’s done his best running against allowance company, but Super Powers did win the The Chosen Stakes last November. It was a salty field of eleven that day, and he sat just off the pace to score by a comfortable half-length. Connections took a shot in his last race in the San Carlos at Santa Anita, going seven furlongs. Super Powers showed a new dimension, closing from seventh and made up significant ground in the stretch to finish third. Don’t be surprised if this guy takes a step forward.

4. Reliant – (D J C Racing Stables, J. Lezcano) The most lightly raced horse in the field with just twelve career starts. This gelding has really done no wrong so far and had an outstanding three-year-old season. Reliant made eight starts last year and never finished worse than third. He really jumped on the scene, winning the Leavitt Stakes at Charles Town by an easy two lengths against State-Breds. This year, connections have focused more on allowance company and haven’t had much luck. That is a concern, as well as the most success this horse has had is running at the seven-furlong distance. Other horses look more attractive in this spot.

5. Red Font – (John Henry, J R. Velazquez) A $250.00 private purchase after participating in the Kentucky Derby and running third in the Preakness. John Henry tried running Red Font in several three-year-old stakes for the rest of the year and won the British Columbia Derby by a nose. He ended 2025 with a try in the Breeders Cup and failed to fire. This son of Worst Case Scenario tried sprinting again in his last start at Gulfstream Park and didn’t make any headway in a three-horse field. It’s tough to judge this horse due to having a lack of sprint form. The big question remains whether six furlongs is really going to be this gelding’s preferred distance?

6. Dorian Gray – (Mb Stables, R. Santana Jr.) The highest earner in this field with $2,058.20 in career earnings. Most of that came from last year when Dorian Gray was the upset winner of the Breeders Cup Sprint. He put up a 103 speed figure and stamped himself as the best dirt sprinter in the game. Now as a newly turned seven-year-old, things haven’t been going smoothly. Mb Stables entered this gelding in the Whitmore Stakes, and he failed to fire as the favorite. Connections then tried to stretch him out another furlong in the Commonwealth and had to settle for a distant  second. Dorian Gray will be my top pick, but he needs to get a perfect trip to win here.

7. Cinnamon Caviar – (TwinTowersRacing, E J. Zayas) Interestingly, this California-Bred is the lone colt entered and the only runner yet to capture a stakes victory. After being purchased for $1.00 from Smokey Stover’s dispersal, connections gave Cinnamon Caviar several chances to shine on the grass. His only success was an N1X victory and just recently, TwinTowersRacing decided to remove Lasix. This proved to be a good move as he won by a comfortable length last time out at Sunland Park. This entry makes sense to capitalize on an impressive effort, but Cinnamon Caviar is in much deeper waters. I would be surprised if he sprung an upset.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES