Classic Endeavor wires Stuyvesant

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Once admirers from afar, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. and his owners have become even more enamored with Classic Endeavor now that he is in their barn.

Saturday, Classic Endeavor won his second consecutive race for Dutrow and owners Vincent Scuderi, L. Hollow Farms, and Sullivan Lane Stable when he went gate to wire to take the Grade 3, $109,900 at Aqueduct by 1 1/2 lengths. Colita rallied for second, 4 1/4 lengths ahead of 2002 Stuyvesant winner Snake Mountain.

Dutrow said his owners always wanted to claim Classic Endeavor, but Dutrow declined to claim from the horse's previous connections, owners Herbert and Carol Schwartz and trainer Scott Schwartz. In June, Scott Lake claimed Classic Endeavor from those connections for $35,000, and two starts later, Dutrow claimed him from Lake for $50,000.

Dutrow said Classic Endeavor, who won the 2003 Excelsior Handicap over this track, had hind end problems that needed to be addressed.

"It was all hind end with this horse," Dutrow said. "We got him straightened out behind. He's pushing off the right way, so now he can play his game."

Breaking from the rail under Edgar Prado, Classic Endeavor quickly assumed the front, set fractions of 24.26 seconds, 48.74, and 1:12.86 and coasted from there. Classic Endeavor, a 6-year-old son of Silver Buck, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.70 and returned $8.60 as the third choice.

The Stuyvesant was one of two wins on the card for Dutrow, who also saddled Tale of Woe to win the fifth. Dutrow is the meet's leading trainer, with a 12-10-4 record from 33 starters.

Classic Endeavor won for the 15th time in 55 career starts and has now earned $647,893. He has won over $200,000 on Aqueduct's inner track, where the next series of handicap stakes will be run, starting with the $100,000 Queens County Handicap on Dec. 4.