Negligee Nearing Return

Although the retirement of Grade 1 Prioress winner Franny Freud has left an empty spot in John Terranova’s barn, the trainer is looking ahead with another talented 3-year-old filly, Sovereign Stable’s Negligee.

Winner of the Grade 1 Alcibiades last fall at Keeneland in just the third start of her career, the daughter of Northern Afleet was briefly sidelined this spring with a chip in one of her front ankles, which was discovered after her third-place finish in the Grade 2 Sands Point run on the grass at Belmont Park May 31.

“She ran well in the Sands Point, but she switched leads a few times down the stretch and Johnny [Velazquez, jockey] said she seemed kind of uncomfortable that day,” Terranova said. “She was never lame or unsound, but we went looking, took X-rays, and discovered the chip in her ankle, which was just a tiny little thing. Dr. Patty Hogan removed it and said there was no damage otherwise, that her ligaments were pristine. She didn’t miss much time and she’s come back beautifully.”

Negligee worked four furlongs over the Oklahoma Training Track in 48.45 on Friday, August 13. To date she has competed exclusively on synthetic tracks and turf, compiling a 2-2-1 record from seven starts.

“It was her first work back,” Terranova said. “We’re going to go forward and hope to see her back on the racetrack in September – I’m not sure where she’ll run yet. She’s doing great though and we’re looking forward to having her back.”

Terranova added that Grade 3 Toboggan winner Wall Street Wonder is also nearing a return to the races, but said he did not yet have a specific spot picked out for the colt.

A new addition to the barn is Four Roses Thoroughbreds’ Anak Nakal, who finished in a dead heat for third with Ready’s Echo in the 2008 Belmont Stakes won by Da’ Tara. The son of Victory Gallop has not run since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on November 27, 2009, and he joined the Terranova barn about seven weeks ago.

“What a classy horse,” Terranova said of Anak Nakal, who breezed three furlongs over the Oklahoma Track in 38.45 on Tuesday morning. “If everything goes well, look for him in the fall.”