Nonna Mela looking for repeat success

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. » Nonna Mela, who won the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes by six lengths last year at Saratoga, makes her 3-yearold debut in the seventh race on Monday.

The 7-furlong event, an optional claiming race with a purse of $90,000 for 3-year-olds and up, drew five entrants.

Since Monday’s scheduled $100,000 New York Stallion Stakes did not draw enough entries, the ninth and third races serve as cofeatures as the second full week of racing at the Spa draws to a close.

Nonna Mela followed the Adirondack with a fourth in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park to finish her season and is drawn outside in Monday’s race.

Annie Rocks, a 4-yearold, is enjoying a good season and comes off a fourth in a turf event at Belmont Park.

Prior to that, she captured an upper level allowance in the slop at Belmont, and with rain in the Monday forecast she could find the same kind of going in this test.

Malibu Stacy won an allowance at Saratoga last year at 7 furlongs, and while she is winless in two starts so far in 2017, she appears to be rounding to form.

Tejana showed lots of promise last year, winning her first two races and then losing the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks by a neck.

In her lone outing this year she experienced traffic problems at Belmont Park on June 15 at this distance.

The speedy Improv completes the field and two races back nearly captured the Grade 3 Matron at Churchill Downs, losing by a neck.

The other $90,000 optional claimer on Monday is the third race, at 1 ½ miles on turf for older fillies and mares.

Achnaha and Queen Blossom seem to fit this test, as both have made several starts in graded company the last two years.

Achnaha was no factor in her last start, the River Memories at Belmont Park on July 9 at this distance.

However, she was a close third in the Grade 3 Waya last summer here at the same 12 furlongs.

Two races back she was a rallying third in an optional claimer, in which Queen Blossom was 2 1/4 lengths better in second.

Queen Blossom was a Group 3 winner in Ireland last year on soft ground, and that could be the case if this event stays on grass.

Grateful, who won her last at 1 1/4 miles on the Belmont turf, is the lone 3-year-old in this field.

She has been on the board in all six career starts and can also handle soft going.

Lilly’s Dream and Private Client complete the field.

BY NYRA Nonna Mela is seen as the favorite in this years Adirondack Stakes, a race in which she finished first last season. After finishing first at the Adirondack Stakes last season, Nonna Mela finished fourth at the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont park.