Americanus earns stakes shot; Bourbon War on course for Hill Prince

Following a successful first out graduation on Saturday at Belmont Park, Courtlandt Farms' Americanus could go next in the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua on November 3 at Aqueduct.

Trained by Mark Hennig and guided to victory by Manny Franco, the 2-year-old son of War Front is out of the Mineshaft broodmare Sapphiresndiamonds. His fourth generation dam is the prolific broodmare Lassie Dear, whose offspring produced notable sires and American Classic winners A.P. Indy, Lemon Drop Kid and Summer Squall.

"On paper, it looked like one of those Saratoga maiden races," Hennig said. "I hope that they all run back well and it does end up being a good race. I was confident in the horse going in and when I looked at the entries I saw how salty it really came up.

"He had trained really well. His last breeze leading up to the race was real nice. He's done things within himself the whole time. It seemed like he had to think about it before he ran by that last horse. But he was pretty professional otherwise."

Hennig was not committed to the one-mile Nashua, but said Americanus would definitely be nominated.

"He's got some route distance in his pedigree," Hennig said. "We'll see how he comes out of it and see how that race shapes up, but we will definitely nominate to it."

Lake Star Stables and Bourbon Lane Stables' Bourbon War worked over the Belmont turf on Sunday, completing a half-mile in 48.55 seconds under jockey Jose Lezcano.

Hennig said the well-bred Tapit sophomore remains on track for Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Hill Prince over the inner turf.

"He's doing things easy out there," Hennig said. "I know the turf course is quick but I was on the radio telling Lezcano not to move the whole time. I thought he finished up nicely. Right now [the Hill Prince] is the target."

Bourbon War made his turf debut last out in the Better Talk Now, where he was second beaten a half-length to Front Run the Fed. A contender in two-thirds of the Triple Crown, Bourbon War is still in search of a stakes victory but was second to Code of Honor in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in the winter.

Hennig said Bourbon War, who is the first offspring out of multiple graded stakes winner My Conquestadory, seems to take to the turf better than he has the main track.

"I think we found his surface," Hennig said. "He still has some things with being a little green and we've got to figure out all the intricacies with his Tapit attitude when he gets up beside horses. I added some cheek pieces in training lately and I think it's helped keep him in a straight line."