It was a second stakes victory for BLAME’s Love The Nest on Saturday night with a win in the Minnesota Derby for Lothenbach Stables and Joel Berndt.
The 3-year-old raced just over a length behind the pacesetter for the first half of the one-mile race before making his move as they exited the backstretch. The other horse yielded to him as they raced around the turn but wasn’t willing to totally give in and battled Love The Nest until the stretch.
At that point, another horse was making their move and Love The Nest had to fight had to keep his advantage, winning by a head in the end.
The BLAME son has won four of his six starts with two other top two finishes, including a second in the Victor S. Myers Stakes last out for $184,275 in earnings. Love The Nest also on the Northern Lights Futurity last year as a juvenile.
Love The Nest was purchased by his racing owner from the Keeneland September Sale out of the Vinery Sales consignment, who was selling him for breeder Pete Mattson.
Love The Nest is one of two stakes winners out of the multiple stakes winning Congrats and Roses alongside Defend The Rose. The mare’s only other runner was fourth in a stakes as well.