Aveenu Malcainu (Into Mischief) headlines the field of six juveniles in the GII Nashua S. Sunday at Aqueduct. The $150,000 OBS April purchase broke his maiden impressively July 28 at Saratoga and returned later in the meet to defeat state-breds in the Funny Cide S. Aug 25. The bay was put to the test in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 7, where he uncharacteristically was up on the lead through the first half-mile in a quick :45 4/5 before fading to seventh in a field that included multiple Breeders' Cup starters.
Godolphin homebred Avery Island (Street Sense) will be tough if he runs back to his last start. After chasing the entire way in his debut sprinting Aug. 19 at Saratoga, the bay stretched out to 8 1/2 furlongs and won going away in gate-to-wire fashion by 5 1/4 lengths. The 79 Beyer Speed Figure that he produced is the best last-out figure in this field.
Besides Aveenu Malcainu, only Blue Ridge Scout (New Year's Day) has beaten winners entering Sunday. The $40,000 Keeneland September buy graduated Aug. 12 in his second start over a muddy Laurel Park main track in an off the turfer. He finally got on the grass in the Laurel Futurity S. Sept. 16, but didn't take to the surface, finishing seventh. Switched back to the main track last time out Oct. 15 in optional claiming company, he got the job done by a neck at 16-1.
An intriguing player is WinStar homebred Super Sermon (Super Saver), who seemed to enjoy added ground when stretched to a mile at Belmont Sept. 9. He bested a return graduate that day.
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