Avery Island sails to Nashua victory; Lucy N Ethel returns to winner’s circle

Godolphin Racing LLC’s homebred Avery Island pulled away in the stretch of Sunday’s $200,000 Nashua Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct to record an easy 4 3/4-length victory under jockey Joe Bravo.

The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee ran inside and in tandem with Under the Graydar through an opening quarter of :23.66 while Super Sermon tracked in third on the outside. Avery Island began pulling clear entering the turn and found only 4-5 favorite Aveenu Malcainu ready to challenge in the lane. The Street Sense colt easily turned that one away and opened up to finish a mile on the fast main track in 1:37.58.

Sent off the 2-1 second choice, Avery Island paid $6.30 for the win. Super Sermon re-rallied to take second by a half-length over Aveenu Malcainu, while Crea’s Bklyn Law followed in fourth another 3 1/2 lengths back. Completing the order of finish were Blue Ridge Scount and Under the Graydar.

Avery Island is now 3-2-0-0, $165,332, in his career. The Kentucky-bred bay finished seventh in his debut while sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga, then stretched out to 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park and broke his maiden by 5 1/4 lengths last out over a good, sealed track.

Avery Island is the first registered foal out of the A.P. Indy mare Kinda Spicy, who went two-for-two on track while racing in New York. His second dam is Chilean Horse of the Year Isola Piu Bella, and this female line boasts Grade 1 heroine Al’s Gal as well as numerous Chilean Group 1 winners and champions.

NASHUA QUOTES

Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer Avery Island, winner

"It was a great race for only his third start. Joe Bravo did a great job. He was pressured early and then he kind of drew off late. We're tickled to death. He's a nice horse. We'll look at the ($250,000) Remsen (G2) back in four weeks (on December 2).

"It's encouraging that it wasn't a wet track or sealed or anything this time. He's always trained well and we've always liked him and that was a great result today. The longer the better. He's a big strong horse with a big stride. He wants to run all day."

Joe Bravo, jockey Avery Island, winner

"It's always exciting to have two-year-olds coming around. If you look at this horse, he's big and he's just going to keep growing into himself. I have some high expectations. He really finished up the last eighth of a mile. I was very happy about that. He's in the right hands; Kiaran will do right by him."

Later on Aqueduct’s Sunday card, Grade 2 heroine Lucy N Ethel returned to her winning ways when wiring the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths under John Velazquez. The Todd Pletcher-trained daughter of During ran six furlongs in 1:10.39 to improve her scorecard to 7-5-0-0, $373,134.

The J.A.G. Racing Inc. and Jettany Thoroughbred Corp. homebred captured her initial quartet of races, including the Prioress Stakes (G2) and Old Hat Stakes (G3), but was well-beaten in her past pair against Grade 2 rivals.