Chelsea Durand Photo

Classic Lady rebounds in Ticonderoga

by NYRA Press Office

Keeping the momentum going on an action-packed Friday card at Belmont Park, Classic Lady scampered away from her competition in a postponed edition of the $200,000 Ticonderoga for New York-bred fillies and mares to give owners Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso their second collective stakes victory on the program and Dubb his third overall.

Originally scheduled for earlier in the meet on the Belmont grass, the Ticonderoga was the victim of inclement weather and instead moved to Friday, where it was contested on its intended surface.

Making just her third start of the year following a couple of uninspiring runs in the Yaddo at Saratoga Race Course and an optional claimer at Monmouth Park, Classic Lady rediscovered the form that saw her win a New York-bred stakes race at the Spa in 2019 and nearly win another that same year.

Breaking from the rail on the inner turf course, the 6-year-old daughter of

Jimmy Creed gained good position on the clubhouse turn, sitting in third under

Paco Lopez as Silky Blue went out to set the pace with longshot Two Cent Tootsie in close pursuit.

The leading pair carved out a swift opening quarter-mile of 24.26 seconds, but the pace softened considerably down the backstretch with the half going in 50.40 before picking back up through three-quarters in 1:14.02 as the field rounded the far turn.

Sitting in the garden spot a few lengths off the pacesetters and running side-by-side with Giacosa, Classic Lady commenced her rally in earnest leaving the bend and surged to a decisive advantage by midstretch, which she then parlayed to a 1 1/4-length victory.

“The filly was training very well and we’re fortunate that [the owners] were willing to take a chance to go on with it [at 6-years-old],” said Miguel Clement, son and assistant to winning trainer Christophe Clement. “She really seemed to thrive at Saratoga in the cooler weather.”

Classic Lady, bred by Seth Gregory and Robert Barney, returned $9.60 on a $2 win wager and completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.35. With the winner’s share of the purse of $120,000, her career earnings now stand at $411,290.

Cara’s Dreamer finished second, a head in front of another Clement trainee in Timeless Journey. Canadian shipper and race favorite odds-on favorite Barkin, who was coming off a third-place finish against open company in the Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine, could only muster a mild rally in the stretch to get fourth.

Silky Blue, Giacosa, Dancingwthdaffodls and Two Cent Tootsie completed the order of finish. Ice Princess, entered for the main-track only, scratched.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card that includes four stakes, starting with the Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track and also including the $200,000 Mohawk for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf; the $100,000 Chelsey Flower for 2 year-old fillies contesting at 1 1/16 miles on the turf; and the $100,000 Stewart Manor for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the inner turf. First post is 12 p.m. Eastern.

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

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, 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.