Last Toots the latest Philly flash
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The connections of the best 3-year-old colt of 2004 return to New York on Saturday with an intriguing 3-year-old filly who will try stakes company for the first time in the $150,000 Comely at Aqueduct.
Owners Roy and Patricia Chapman, trainer John Servis, and jockey Stewart Elliott - who campaigned Smarty Jones a year ago - will send out Last Toots in the Grade 2 Comely. If her last two races are any indication, Last Toots just may be the horse to beat in the one-mile race, which drew a field of nine.
, a daughter of Concern bred by Patricia Chapman, has won her last two starts by a combined 23 3/4 lengths at Philadelphia Park. Those races were run around two turns at a mile and 70 yards.
"She's got a lot of talent, that filly - I like her a lot," Servis said from Oaklawn Park. "I told Chappy early on I thought she was going to be a talented filly."
Servis said Last Toots was injured after she finished fourth at 8-5 in her debut last July 31 at five furlongs. She didn't make it back to the races until Jan. 16, when she finished fifth going six furlongs. Servis believes the added distance has played a role in Last Toots's turnaround.
Servis's only concern is that the one-turn mile of the Comely may be not be her best game.
"I think she's better going farther," Servis said. "I don't think it's her best distance, but it's kind of the only game in town right now. She's doing good enough where I hope she'll be able to handle that."
Last Toots will break from post 5 and carry 116 pounds.
Last Toots is likely to be forwardly placed under Elliott. She may face pressure from . A contested pace would benefit Acey Deucey, who won the Dearly Precious Stakes from last. She is coming off a second-place performance in the Grade 3 Cicada under regular rider Diane Nelson, who will be aboard again Saturday.
"It'll be Diane's call as far as where she wants to put her," trainer John Morrison said. "The only thing I don't want to see is her on the lead."
Pleasant Chimes won her first two starts before finishing fourth in the slowly run Bonnie Miss at Gulfstream. She may appreciate cutting back to a one-turn mile.