Nothing Better Proves Best In Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship

Nothing Better (5g Munnings x One True Love, by Duke of Marmalade) added a seventh stakes win to his record on Friday in the Listed Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship.

Racing on the outer turf at Aqueduct over six furlongs, Nothing Better shot straight to the lead as the first out of the gate to lead the way around the track. He underwent pressure throughout the race and was headed in the straight but took back the lead with a furlong to go.

That horse would fade to sixth but Nothing Better continued to fight on and held a half-length advantage in the end for his second career stakes victory and sixth win in nine starts since July 25 of last year.

“He’s improving. Last time at Laurel, he won really nicely. He didn’t win with me, but he did it in a nice time – 1:02 and change. So, I felt like I had a nice shot. This is a really nice horse,” said jockey Horacio Karamanos.

Trained by Jorge Duarte for Colts Neck Stables, Nothing Better pushed his earnings over $356,000 with the win.

A $230,000 OBS Spring 2-Year-Old purchase in 2019, Nothing Better was bred by Don Alberto Corp out of the winning One True Love. That mare is a half-sister to Grade I winner Folk Opera, who is the granddam of multiple Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior and Group I winner Mr. Bailetti.

Munnings’ 15 stakes winners is the second best of all North American sires with his 28 stakes performers also among the top stallions on the list.