Saratoga showdown: Nest beats Clairiere in Shuvee return

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Nest sure was worth waiting for.

The 4-year-old filly returned from an eight-month layoff to fend off the brilliant mare Clairiere by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee on Sunday at Saratoga.

Clairiere was making her fourth start this season and coming off consecutive Grade 1 victories in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and the Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park. So it was nothing short of remarkable that she never seriously threatened Nest.

“She was the best older horse in the division. She’s probably second best now,” said Mike Repole, Nest’s co-owner. “You couldn’t have asked for anything more. They could have gone around two more times and she wasn’t going to be passed.”

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher had hoped to have Nest ready for the June 10 Ogden Phipps but a fever and a lingering infection put him behind schedule with his star filly. He is meticulous in his preparation and is not inclined to rush any horse, particularly one of Nest’s caliber.

Her sophomore accomplishments included a gritty runner-up effort to stablemate Mo Donegal in the Belmont Stakes and then authoritative victories in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama before a romp in the Beldame (G2).

Nest was scary good in her comeback.

“This is not going to be her best out of the year. This might be her worst. She’s going to get better,” Repole said. “That’s what gets me excited. She probably was 90 percent for this race, maybe 85. That’s exciting.”

Pletcher also came away believing there is much more in the tank. He said of his approach to the 1 1/8-mile Shuvee, “There are two things. One, you want to be ready today. Two, you don’t want to drain her today with bigger goals down the road. That’s what we were trying to balance out.”

Nest, in winning for the eighth time in 12 lifetime starts and surpassing $2 million in earnings, remained undefeated through three starts at Saratoga. She almost certainly will make another start here during this meet.

Repole, an excitable sort, was so jazzed by what he had just seen that he suggested a battle against the boys in the Sept. 2 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) might be on the table.

“I think the Jockey Club would be an interesting race. It’s got a little more distance, which she would like. It’s a Grade 1 … I can’t say it’s crazy,” said Repole, promising to confer with co-owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House and, of course, Pletcher.

Expect cooler heads to prevail. Pletcher has had the Aug. 25 Personal Ensign (G1) in mind for some time. Then he would look for one other start as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. Nest has plenty of unfinished business at the Breeders’ Cup after finishing a disappointing fourth last November at Keeneland, trailing stablemate Malathaat, Blue Stripe and Clairiere.

In the Shuvee, Irad Ortiz Jr. was able to secure an ideal early position with Nest behind pace-setting Pistol Liz Ablazen, who took the short field of four through an opening quarter in 24.82 seconds, the half in 49.87 seconds and three-quarters in 1:14.43.

It was only a matter of time before Nest pounced and Clairiere unleashed her patented late kick. As Clairiere gave chase, jockey Joel Rosario took her inside and then veered outside. It was all to no avail as Nest rolled to a winning time of 1:50.72.

“You have to have tons of confidence in her. She shows up every time and runs so well,” Pletcher said. “We’re just really happy to have her back.”