John A Nerud Stakes: Life Is Good takes on Speaker's Corner in a thriller

There have been many better punting heats than this year’s Grade 2 John A Nerud Stakes, but this race possesses something that others don’t: a match between two equine superstars.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner Life Is Good returns to the racetrack after a four-month layoff to face Carter Handicap victor Speaker’s Corner. David Aragona’s Morning Line has Life Is Good as the 1-2 market leader with Speaker’s Corner predicted to go off at 6-5, but I think there will be a greater difference in their prices. 

Life Is Good has long been considered one of the most talented performers in the country, but his career hasn’t been without a blip or three. Nevertheless, he looks like a 1-3 poke in this contest.

A son of Into Mischief - a leading sire in the US, Life Is Good was the long-time antepost favourite for the 2021 Kentucky Derby after romping home in three west coast trials for trainer Bob Baffert, but was forced to miss the race after he suffered a setback during a routine workout two months before his date with destiny.

Owners China Horse Club and WinStar Farm decided to switch Life Is Good to Todd Pletcher’s barn shortly after due to the controversy surrounding his former trainer, and he was given a misjudged ride from veteran Mike Smith on his first start for the new yard in the Allen Jerkens, where he came up short behind the highly talented Jackie’s Warrior. 

Three glittering victories at three different tracks followed, including the aforementioned Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup, which led to him being sent off favourite in the Dubai World Cup in March this year.

Life Is Good broke brilliantly and made a beeline for the front under Irad Ortiz. The pair set a decent gallop, but nothing out of Life Is Good’s comfort zone, and entered the straight looking the most likely winners. However, the 1m2f trip proved a step too far for Pletcher’s charge as he faded in the closing half a furlong to finish fourth behind fellow US contender Country Grammer.

We haven’t seen him since and it is unknown how much that race will have taken out of him, but if Life Is Good is anywhere near his best he will be near unstoppable from the inside post. Flavien Prat takes over, which is no bad thing, and he looks the speed of the speed as he drops back to seven furlongs.

Speaker’s Corner, on the other hand, has slowly risen up the ranks after disappointing in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby as a three-year-old. Trainer Bill Mott has worked wonders with this four-year-old, who has the perfect mixture of speed and stamina to thrive at this distance, and his Carter victory two runs back gives him clear form claims.

He was perhaps in a touch too deep last time in the Met Mile as he couldn’t live with the highly talented Flightline, but he managed to lead that rival and similar tactics will be planned this time around. He doesn’t get much class relief now that he faces Life Is Good, but he warrants his place in the field and, without him, this would be an exaggerated workout for the jolly.

Speaker’s Corner is running over his best trip and has race fitness on his side, but he will need his sole danger to underperform if he is to bounce back to winning ways.

Repo Rocks, Harvard and War Tocsin make up a five-strong field. All three need to find massive improvement to contend and should be fighting out the minor positions. Perhaps course regular Repo Rocks will come out on top off that longshot trio.

Recommended bet

Life Is Good (7.34 Belmont Park) @ 1.6