Finery rallies in Beaugay to win by neck

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Finery proved to be the filly for the course Saturday afternoon as she rallied to win the $112,800 for fillies and mares over a good turf course at Aqueduct.

Ridden by Pablo Fragoso, Finery remained unbeaten in both of her grass races at the Big A. She also captured the Grade 3 Athenia Handicap on Oct 31.

"Her last winning race was right here last fall," said Finery's trainer, Billy Turner. Calling the filly "very powerful," Turner said Finery "was slow to mature, but it seems like she's come around now."

At 5, Finery ($17.60) looked all grown-up. She was the consummate professional, scoring the win in her first start since running sixth in the Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 20.

Turner was confident that Finery would handle the layoff.

"She had trained very well for the race," he said.

As expected, Changing World took charge early. Trained by Barclay Tagg, she rebounded nicely from a poor effort in the Honey Fox Handicap at Gulfstream Park over a very firm course.

Changing World loves a course with some give, and she got that in the Beaugay at drizzly and foggy Aqueduct.

Changing World was pressed throughout by Fortunate Damsel, the other Turner trainee in the race. Changing World put away that rival turning for home and looked like the winner until Finery kicked into gear in the lane.

Finery, never worse than third, angled out in the upper stretch to begin her drive.

"I rode her like she was the best horse in the race," Fragoso said.

Finery got up by a neck over Changing World, with Asti, making her first start for trainer Allen Jerkens, 2 1/2 lengths back in third. Finery ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.56.