Robert Mauher Photo

Clothes Fall Off drops'em in Correction

by Najja Thompson

Making her third start of the year and first since finishing third in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie in February, Cheyenne Stables' Clothes Fall Off cruised to victory in the 77th running of the $125,000 Correction for fillies and mares 4-year-old and up on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Leaving from post 3 with Rajiv Maragh aboard as the 6-5 post time favorite, Clothes Fall Off stalked from fifth position as Disco Chick led the field of seven through swift fractions of 22.83 seconds for the opening quarter-mile on a track labeled good following afternoon showers with the half going in 45.77.

At the quarter-pole, Disco Chick continued to lead with Hot City Girl just to her outside and Kalabaka making a well-intentioned run on the inside to the rail. Continuing to save ground until tipped out four-wide at the top of the stretch, Clothes Fall Off, in full drive, extended away past Disco Chick to comfortably secure the victory by 4 ¼ lengths.

Returning $4.60 for a $2 win wager, she completed the Six-furlong distance in 1:11.06.

"She ran great in the [Grade 2] Barbara Fritchie and it set her up good for today," said Maragh. "The pace developed in front of her, which is something she likes. She's got one sharp run, so when the pace develops it helps her closing kick. My job today was to just give her a clear trip and in the stretch, I felt like I had a lot of horse so I put her in the clear and she did the rest."

With the victory, her second career stakes win and second straight in the Correction, the 5-year-old Kiaran McLaughlin trainee win boosted her lifetime earnings to $474,160 for the winning connections.

"[This] is the one we wanted," said Joe Lee assistant to McLaughlin. "She's been doing so good and feeling well, so we're happy. She broke well, she usually does. There were four horses in front of us, but with that said, we knew she had that kick. We're glad to see it come out that way."

Hot City Girl, the 2-1 second choice, finished in third followed by Kalabaka, Splendid Gold, Jet Majesty and Ultimate Holiday.