Nu What's New kept his rivals at bay to land his first stakes win in the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) March 28 at Oaklawn Park.
The James DiVito trainee broke sharply and vied for the lead with Awesome Aaron, who set an opening quarter of :23.51. Nu What's New then became the leader, setting a contested pace down the backstretch with fractions of :46.90, 1:11.78, and 1:24.74. Around the far turn, he was encouraged by jockey Luis Saez to keep opening up on his competition. He entered the stretch with a 2-length lead, but had a wall of pursuers. Under a drive, he held off all challengers to win by three-quarters of a length on the wire as the 9-5 post-time favorite.
The 4-year-old son of Munnings began his year by winning an allowance race Feb. 5 at Oaklawn before running second in the Razorback Handicap (G3) to subsequent Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude. The Oaklawn Mile was his second stakes appearance, having only broken his maiden Dec. 26. All three of his wins have been contested at Oaklawn Park.
East Avenue, trained by Brendan Walsh and owned by Godolphin, finished second in his first start of the year, having not been seen since his off-the-board finish in the Aug. 3 West Virginia Derby (G3). Neoequos finished third, and after stumbling badly at the start, Full Serrano finished fourth.
Owned by Doubledown Stables, Nu What's New completed the mile in a final time of 1:37.34 and paid $5.80 to win.
Video: Oaklawn Mile S. (G3)
Parchment Party Takes the Temperence Hill
Parchment Party, last seen in Australia contesting the Nov. 4 Melbourne Cup (G1), made his first start of the year a winning one in the Temperence Hill Stakes. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 5-year-old son of Constitution raced off the pace, and turning for home, he made a move for the lead under Saez. He dug in late and prevailed by a half-length over Jokestar in a final time of 2:33.43 for the 1 1/2 miles on a fast main track. The Pin Oak Stud-owned colt went off as the even-money favorite and paid $4.
Video: Temperence Hill S. (BT)
Publisher Makes it three in a row in American Pharoah Stakes
Publisher, winless in his first 12 starts, earned his third victory in a row and his first stakes win in the American Pharoah Overnight Stakes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the 8-5 favorite settled midpack after the break under jockey Erik Asmussen. As they moved for the stretch, he confronted pacesetting Echo Again and put him away to gain the upper hand and score by 1 1/2 lengths. The 4-year-old, who is fittingly a son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, is owned by Gus King and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones. He finished the 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:43.51 and paid $5.20 for the win.
