Classy Act enters Test Stakes at top of game

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Classy Act had put away Mia Mischief, turned back the challenge of Sower, and seemed on her way to winning the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes last month at Belmont Park. But along the inside came 47-1 longshot Dixie Serenade to get up in the final jump and win by a neck.

“I really thought if she could have seen or felt that horse, she could have held her off,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “She ran huge; she ran great. I do look for her to bounce back well.”

Classy Act looks to bounce back in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga. Classy Act was one of nine entered Wednesday for the Test, run at seven furlongs.

Any worries that the Victory Ride took a toll on Classy Act were removed when Calhoun saw her at the test barn after the race.

“She wasn’t stressed at all,” Calhoun said.

Then, last Saturday, Classy Act worked four furlongs in 47.55 seconds over the Oklahoma training track and galloped out five furlongs in 59.98.

“Just in a gallop,” Calhoun said. “You would have never thought she went that fast looking at it.”

Dixie Serenade was not entered in the Test. Those who were include Alter Moon and Separationofpowers from the barn of Chad Brown, Cathedral, Reader, Kelly’s Humor, Mia Mischief, Minit to Stardom, Norma’s Charm, and Spectator.