Jody’s Pride turns things around in Ruffian upset; Whatchatalkinabout prevails in Nerud

Saturday’s stakes action at Aqueduct (Belmont at the Big A meet) featured a pair of main track events for older horses, the $200,000 Ruffian (G2) for fillies and mares and $169,750 John A. Nerud (G3) for sprinters.

A neck second in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Jody’s Pride hadn’t visited the winner’s circle since taking the Busher in her three-year-old opener, but the four-year-old filly got back on track in the Ruffian, surging to win the one-mile event by about a length.

Joel Rosario was up for Jorg eAbreu on the dark bay daughter of American Pharoah, and Jody’s Pride snapped a four-race losing skein, returning a $17.60 win mutuel for every $2 wagered. The Kentucky-bred filly stalked the pace in fourth before offering her bid off the far turn, striking the front in midstretch, and she drew away late.

Owned by Parkland Thoroughbreds and Sportsmen Stable, Jody’s Pride was timed in 1:35.04. She had lost four straight races, finishing last to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna most recently in the March 8 Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn Park, and the two-time stakes winner improved her overall record to 9-4-1-1.

Sterling Silver, the 3-1 second choice, rallied for runner-up honors, 2 1/2 lengths better than 13-10 favorite My Mane Squeeze. Next came Morning Matcha, Headline Numbers, who dueled through opening splits in :23.62 and :46.40, Gun Song, and Here’s the Kicker.

Bred by Steve Weston, Jody’s Pride is the first stakes winner out of the Scat Daddy mare Jody’s Song.

In the six-furlong Nerud, Ice Wine Stable’s Whatchatalkinabout got up in deep stretch between rivals to narrowly score, registering his first graded stakes win while making his first start versus open company. Wesley Ward trains the New York-bred son of Dialed In, and Irad Ortiz Jr. guided the four-year-old gelding.

Whatchatalkinabout improved his overall record to 7-4-2-1 while returning from a 117-day freshening, earning a 107 Brisnet Speed Rating for an eight-length victory over conditioned state-bred allowance in mid-January, and the even-money favorite stopped the teletimer in 1:09.03.

Silver Slugger, who was making his first graded attempt after three consecutive allowance/optional claiming wins at Tampa Bay Downs, wheeled through opening splits in :21.89 and :44.84 while being chased by the eventual winner and Surveillance on the far outside, and the pacesetter held for second along the inside at 12-1. It was another neck to 8-1 Surveillance in third.

Full Moon Madness and O’Connor Sunset followed under the wire. Anarchist was pulled up and transported off the track via the track ambulance.

An $82,000 yearling purchase, Whatchatalkinabout was bred by Newtown Anner Stud and is the first stakes winner from the Super Saver mare Super Savvy.