There was a moment of hush before the storm on Saturday afternoon at Woodbine, as No Nay Hudson (IRE) — overlooked by many but trusted by his connections — found the perfect burst to seize his first-ever graded stakes title in the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes, presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
For jockey Pablo Morales, it was a ride built on faith and patience. Held up early behind a scorching pace, the 5-year-old gelding unleashed a devastating late run to snatch victory from the jaws of two determined frontrunners, leaving the crowd buzzing with admiration.
A late charge to glory
The five-furlong dash on the inner turf, open to three-year-olds and older, attracted a classy field of seven. Early on, Western Whirl and heavily backed favourite Bring Theband Home locked horns, tearing through an opening fraction of :21.65. Meanwhile, Morales kept No Nay Hudson (IRE) relaxed at the back — conserving energy for one decisive strike.
As they swung for home, the pacesetters were still shoulder to shoulder, but their duel had taken its toll. Morales angled his mount four-wide, and with a quickening stride that seemed to come from nowhere, No Nay Hudson (IRE) stormed down the centre of the track.
With about 175 yards to go, Nobals joined the fray, but the Irish-bred gelding had found another gear. He struck the front at the sixteenth pole and held firm to win by a neck over Nobals, with Western Whirl a close third. The Striking Viking (IRE) finished a solid fourth. The final time for the five furlongs on firm turf was :56.19.
“Plan B worked perfectly”
Morales described the early drama with a grin of relief after dismounting.
“If you watch the head-on, the inside horse breaks out really hard, and I got pinched out of there. I had no other choice but to take a hold and switch to Plan B,” he recalled. “I knew they were flying up front, so I thought I had a real shot. Once I got him straight, he picked up beautifully — I knew then he’d outfinish them.”
The win marked a sweet reward for trainer Wesley Ward, who has always believed the gelding had the class to compete at this level. Racing for Andrew Farm and For the People Racing Stable LLC, No Nay Hudson (IRE) came into the race off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar — a contest he’d placed in the previous year.
A well-travelled talent comes of age
Bred in Ireland by RJB Bloodstock, the son of No Nay Never out of Raw Silk (by Malibu Moon) was purchased for $190,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He broke his maiden at first asking in April 2022 with an emphatic four-length win over 4½ furlongs and claimed his first stakes victory in the Listed William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs the following May.
Now boasting a record of 5 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds from 19 starts, this latest success in the Nearctic Stakes (G2) elevates him to a new level in the sprinting ranks.
No Nay Hudson (IRE) rewarded his backers with a healthy $18.90 payout — but for Ward and Morales, the true satisfaction came from vindicating their belief in a horse who has always promised more than luck had allowed.
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