Classy Edition remains unbeaten following Key Cents score

by Brian Bohl

Lawana and Robert Low’s Classy Edition displayed a strong closing kick from the outside at the top of the stretch, overtaking four rivals to pull away in the final furlong for a 3 1/2-length victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Key Cents for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on Aqueduct Racetrack’s main track.

Classy Edition improved to 3-for-3 and completed a trio of wins at NYRA-operated tracks, building on a debut win by 6 3/4 lengths on September 5 at Saratoga Race Course before posting an eight-length score in the Joseph A. Gimma against New York-breds on September 24 at Belmont Park. The Classic Empire filly’s first start at the Big A led to similar success, as she bested the eight-horse field for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons again after piloting Classy Edition to her first two wins, the Chester and Mary Broman-bred bay tracked in fourth position as Silver Fist led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.48 seconds over the fast track. Silver Fist maintained the advantage with the half in 46.31.

Ortiz, Jr. kept Classy Edition to the outside approaching the turn and capitalized on the daylight in front when straightened for home, responding to her jockey’s encouragement to take the lead and stave off Captainsdaughter’s late rally to complete the course in a 1:12.19 final time.

“She broke a step slow but she put me in the race quick and after that I just waited in the turn,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “She's the type of filly that needs a little time to get going. She probably wants to go a little farther, but she kept coming and she got there on time. At the quarter-pole, she went by and she just kept going. She's a nice filly.”

Off as the 4-5 favorite, Classy Edition returned $3.90 on a $2 win bet. A $550,000 purchase at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, she improved her career earnings to $184,250.

“It went pretty smoothly,” Pletcher said. “It looked like a race on paper that had plenty of pace. The main thing is we just wanted to keep her clean and out of trouble and Irad was able to do that. We had to sacrifice a little bit of ground, but she was able to get into a good, comfortable rhythm.”

After proving her mettle against state breds – and in sprints – Pletcher said he would be open to trying Classy Edition against open company and at longer distances.

"We certainly wouldn't be afraid to do that when the timing is right,” Pletcher said. “We'll see what other options we have now and what we'll do with her for the winter. We're looking forward to stretching her out because I think she ultimately wants two turns.”

The Trevor McCarthy-ridden Captainsdaughter, who ran second against state-bred company in the Maid of the Mist in October at Belmont for trainer Russell Cash, again garnered runner-up honors, edging Shesawildjoker by a neck.

“She came out of there a little awkward,” McCarthy said. “She didn't like being near the other horses and she was getting out and hitting the breaks on me. She didn't do much running early. I let her get her feet under her and she was still getting out a bit in the turn. I got aggressive with her late and she came running.

“She ran a great race,” McCarthy added. “We had some traffic, but I just tried to stay in the same lane as the winner and kept following him. I just tipped outside of her [Classy Edition] and she finished up great.”

Silver Fist, Cupid’s Heart, Tosconova Beauty, Makin My Move and Miss Alacrity completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Friday at the Big A with a packed slate featuring three stakes, headlined by the Grade 3, $200,000 Comely for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the main track and bolstered by the $150,000 Gio Ponti for 3-year-olds competing at 1 1/16 miles on the turf and the $150,000 Forever Together for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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