G2 Nashua Stakes victory for Avery Island

Avery Island made most to win the mile G2 Nashua Stakes in good style on dirt at Aqueduct, USA, on Sunday, November 5. 

This was a second consecutive victory for the two-year-old Street Sense colt and the hope is that he could progress to be a Kentucky Derby candidate.

Avery Island, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and partnered by Joe Bravo, made all for a decisive victory in a Belmont Park maiden over an extended mile on September 30.

He was slightly slow into stride when bumped emerging from the stalls, but soon recovered and raced a close second before taking the lead in the third furlong.

Avery Island was two lengths ahead entering the straight and shook off a challenge to go clear inside the final furlong, winning going away by four and three quarter lengths from Super Sermon in 1m 37.58s.

Kiaran McLaughlin said: “Avery Island is improving all the time and has gone from winning a maiden to this pleasing success in a G2.

“He was under pressure for the first half-mile, but then shook loose and went on. He is a nice horse with a big, long stride, who has been training well.

“The longer the better for him. He's a big strong horse with a big stride. He wants to run all day.

“The next target is the G2 Remsen Stakes over a mile and an eighth back at Aqueduct on December 2. We are taking things one step at a time.”

Joe Bravo added: “Avery Island is big and going to keep growing into himself. I have high expectations. He really finished up the last eighth of a mile.”