Horologist digs deep to defeat older rivals in Smart N Classy

Horologist turned in a gritty performance to win her third consecutive race in the $75,000 Smart N Classy at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Heavily favored over her five rivals in the one-mile race for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares, Horologist paid $2.10 across the board. She had $65,450 of the $83,671 place pool wagered on her and $95,813 of the $114,521 show pool.

Horologist, Billy’s Jump Start, and Crazy Daisy all broke running in the Smart N Classy, with Billy’s Jump Start settling just off the pace on the clubhouse turn. From there on, the stakes turned into a match race.

Horologist took the lead from Crazy Daisy nearing the stretch but Crazy Daisy never quit and fought to the wire and ultimately was beaten by 1 3/4 lengths.

The fractions were 24.32, 48.41, and 1:12.96 with a final time of 1:39.27. The final quarter-mile of 26.31 shows how draining the battle was for each of the top two finishers. Billy’s Jump Start finished third, 4 1/2 lengths behind Crazy Daisy.

Joe Bravo rode Horologist for trainer John Mazza.

"She had to run every step of the way this race,” said Mazza, 82. “I didn’t want that to happen but that’s what happened. It’s probably going to take a little bit out of her.”

Bravo said he didn’t necessarily want the race to unfold the way it did.

"I did not expect to be on the lead but when she is dragging you like she was today there is no point in fighting her,” Bravo said. “She was dragging me out of the saddle.”

Horologist, the only 3-year-old in the field, is now 4 for 9. The Smart N Classy is her first stakes win.