Trainer Gary Contessa believes Nutella Fella's gate issues are far behind him and that the colt should be a live contender in the $175,000 Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) Nov. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The son of Runhappy displayed ornery behavior earlier this year loading prior to the start of the Commonwealth (G3) and True North (G3) stakes. Although a foot abscess kept him from competing in the afternoons, Contessa has been schooling Nutella Fella twice a week to ensure the colt's gate issues are a thing of the past.
"They (the gate crew at Aqueduct) know him and how to handle him and I trust they'll do the right thing by him at the gate," Contessa said. "I school him a lot at the gate."
A grade 1 winner of the 2023 Hopeful Stakes (G1) as a 2-year-old, Nutella Fella made one start—a third-place finish in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1)—at 3 before scoring a game victory in the Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in his second outing as a 4-year-old.
"He really ran well last time (fourth in the True North to Book'em Danno)," Contessa said. "He'll be tough to beat in this race. He's training well. The key will be a good pace to run into—I think there's some speed in there and the more speed the merrier. He's ready so hopefully things go his way."
Javier Castellano pilots the Bell Gable Stable runner in the 6-furlong Bold Ruler.
Tom's Fool Stakes (G3) winner Full Moon Madness and consistent multiple stakes winner Buccherino make up the eight-horse field.
Earlier on the card, a compact but ultra-competitive field assembles for the $175,000 Forty Niner Stakes (G3).
Coastal Mission, winless since taking last year's Forty Niner, faces last-out Parx Dirt Mile Stakes victor Nelson Avenue, grade 1-placed Scotland, and multiple graded stakes winner Bishops Bay.
Bishops Bay recorded six consecutive triple-digit Equibase Speed Figures before a disappointing sixth-place effort in the Forego Stakes (G1) Aug. 23. While he was tackling tougher company in the Forego, the Brad Cox trainee, typically on the lead in most of his races, was compromised by a stumble at the start at Saratoga Race Course which took him out of his preferred position. The Forego had ended an impressive four-race win streak for the Uncle Mo 5-year-old that included back-to-back grade 3 victories over the Forty Niner's mile trip in the Westchester (G3) and Salvator Mile (G3) stakes.
LNJ Foxwoods' Scotland has never won at Aqueduct but has a stakes win at a mile on his resume, which he achieved last fall at Churchill Downs in the Cherokee Mile Stakes. The son of Good Magic stretches out after finishing third as the favorite in the Sept. 27 Vosburgh Stakes (G3).
