Classy Edition dominates Gimma Stakes; Tiergan takes three-horse off-the-turf Cole
ELMONT, N.Y. - The ease in which Classy Edition won her debut at Saratoga on Sept. 5 enabled trainer Todd Pletcher to wheel the 2-year-old filly back in 19 days in Friday’s $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes with some confidence.
While she may have had to work a little harder, Classy Edition was even more dominant, drawing off to an eight-length victory in the seven-furlong stakes for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.
Away last under Irad Ortiz Jr., Classy Edition was five wide down the backside, was guided a path or two inside entering the far turn then came wide again for the stretch run. Classy Edition easily passed the front-runners in upper stretch and gradually drew away from Velvet Sister for the win.
Velvet Sister finished six lengths clear of Shesawildjoker. Adversity was fourth followed by an eased November Rein and Our Tiny Dancer.
Ortiz initially was content to be in the clear, but he didn’t want to stay wide throughout.
“I just want to teach her and drop in for a second and see how she handled, she was moving good, she don’t hesitate,” Ortiz said. “First time she got the kickback and she kind of act like she don’t like it, but today she handled it much better. At the three-eighths pole I felt like I had some horse so I let her start doing her thing.”
Classy Edition, a daughter of Classic Empire owned by Robert and Lawana Low who won at first asking by 6 3/4 lengths, covered the seven furlongs in 1:24.42 over a track that was harrowed and labeled good. She returned $4.70 as the favorite.
“If you watch her debut, Irad pretty much galloped her in the last sixteenth,” Pletcher said. “That paid off today that she didn’t have a gut-stretching debut. [Friday], I thought it was impressive. I loved the way she came to the wire and pricked her ears like there was more in the tank. She galloped out well. She’s a filly that’s bred to run longer on both sides of her family so that’s encouraging.”
While the $250,000 Maid of the Mist going a mile here on Oct. 30 is the next spot for New York-bred juvenile fillies, Pletcher said some thought would be given to trying her against open company for her next start.
Tiergan wins off-the-turf Cole
Tiergan took advantage of a surface switch and a strong ride from Luis Saez to win Friday’s $125,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes by a head over Three Jokers. It was 2 1/4 lengths back to City Man, the 4-5 favorite, in third.
The Cole, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on turf, was run over the main track after Thursday’s rain forced all three scheduled turf races to the dirt. The Cole scratched down to a field of three.
Both Tiergan and Three Jokers were entered to run only if the race was run on the main track.
Under Saez, Tiergan was last of three, but only two lengths off the pace established by City Man. Turning for home, Saez swung Tiergan into the clear and by the eighth pole it was evident the race was between Tiergan and Three Jokers. Tiergan, under strong handling from Saez, got the victory.
Tiergan, a 5-year-old gelding by Afleet Alex, was claimed for $16,000 in January by Rudy Rodriguez for himself, Michael Imperio, and Andrew Gurdon. The win was Tiergan’s third straight and fourth from seven starts since the claim.
Tiergan covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.15 over a sealed, muddy track and returned $6.60 as the longest price of the three runners.