The Nerud (Grade 2) (BC)- $250.000 Purse
BEL- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
July 4, 2021

Tallmadge Star came into The Nerud finishing second to Not Trippin Now in each of The CD and the True North. In the third head to head showdown between the two in their last three races, trainer Our Athletes was hoping that his gelding would flip the script. In the Nerud, he would do exactly that, with a good stalking trip early before taking the win late in the stretch. As for his rival, well, he pulled a no show today. This is first win in the race, and jockey J R Velazquez has been a good one to have aboard, as he wins for the third time in the last four races. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:21.12, and that is a new stake record! Let’s take a look!

(¼ mile- :22.67)- Night Creature, trained by D J C Racing Stables, is very fast out of the gate, and opens up a lead of two lengths during the backstretch. There are three horses running behind him, and in the second spot, it is Insist Always, out of Mb Stables, running on the rail. In the third lane is our eventual winner, Tallamadge Star, for Our Athletes. Its A Laugher runs between horses for Maxmillion Farm. After them, we have three more that are another length or so back. John Henry’s A Beagle Named Boo, running on the outside here is a head in front of Bodemister (D J C Racing Stables) between horses, and Hang Around (Nakamura Stables), on the inside. It’s another length to Cp Fascinating Moon (Axeman) and Dangerfield (Mo Mentum Farm), then come Izzy Mendelbaum (YME Stable) and the Gdp Inc stablemates, Trippi Bay and Not Trippin Now. It has not been normal for Not Trippin Now to be behind early, so the problem was brewing early.

(½ Mile- :45.48, Top Of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Night Creature maintained his lead moving around the turn at half a mile, leading by a length and a half at that point, and into the top of the stretch, he still seemed to be running well, although Insist Always had pulled to within a length. Tallmadge maintained a smart trip around the turn, but did not make a big push as of yet. He was still in the third spot, with a deficit of about two lengths to the pacesetter. A Beagle Named Boo moved into fourth, and positioned himself for a four wide move. Bodemister made a strong move on exit of the turn to swing out into the fifth lane. Meanwhile, Its A Laugher and Hang Around held the two inside lanes, and were about three lengths from the lead. There was then a gap to the rest of the field, which saw Dangerfield leading the next pack, and everyone further back had a lot of work to do now to get a piece of this purse.

(Finish- 1:21.12)- With a furlong to go, Night Creature was fighting to hold off Insist Always, but beginning to loom as a threat not was Tallmadge Star who gradually had been cutting into his deficit. He was within a length now, and clear enough of the hard side by side racing that those two were doing. Hang Around was starting to look very interesting, too, and there would be room for him on the rail. Approaching the wire, Tallmadge Star would take over the lead, but his work was not done, because Hang Around was making a good looking bid. In the end, Tallmadge Star would hold on, and defeat Hang Around by half a length. A late move by Bodemister on the far outside saw him take third over Insist Always as Night Creature fizzled out into fifth. Its A Laugher was unable to mount a bigger challenge, but will defeat Izzy Mendelbaum, A Beagle Named Boo, Dangerfield, Trippi Bay, Not Trippin Now, and Cp Fascinating Moon.

About The Winner- Tallmadge Star, trained by Our Athletes and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a five year old gelding by Tallmadge, and is out of Havoc Star. He was bred in Ontario by Oquinn Farm as a third quarter two year old, and acquired by Our Athletes in private sales in December 2020 for $200.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his ninth in 23 starts, his fifth stake win, and fourth graded win. His career earnings are now $1,458.300.

Track: Fast
Time: :22³  :45²  1:08⁴  1:21

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 8 – 2 Paid 39.30
$1 Trifecta: 8 – 2 – 4 Paid 1,410.10

Scratched: Cp Scotts Misses, Given Up On You, Milford Sound

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES