Heft Stakes

One Man Team (Nyquist) backed up his sparkling debut with another sterling performance in the Heft Stakes to claim his career first black-type. Employing a similar strategy as in his debut Oct. 31, when he took a field gate to wire to win by six lengths, the 5-2 second betting choice once again took command out of the gate. Rating well through :23.22 and :47.18 early splits, he handled a would-be challenger on the turn, and opened a clear advantage coming for home. Coasting home, he was 4 1/4 lengths...

Parx-based sophomore Monday Morning Qb (Imagining) is under consideration for Aqueduct's nine-furlong GIII Withers S. Feb. 1, which carries with it GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Second behind Saturday's impressive Gulfstream allowance winner Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) in a Bensalem maiden special weight Oct. 12, the Butch Reid trainee earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure when graduating back at that venue Nov. 16. He handled his first foray into stakes company with aplomb, taking Laurel's Heft S. over seven panels. "He was kind of tired, it was a big step...