Lewis Bay still going strong for Comely

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Lewis Bay ended her 2-year-old season with a graded stakes victory going two turns over Aqueduct’s main track. Her connections hope she can end her 3-year-old campaign the same way when she starts as the probable favorite in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Comely Stakes.

The Comely, restricted to 3-year-old fillies, is the first of four graded stakes on Saturday’s 10-race card, highlighted by the Grade 1 Cigar Mile. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern. The Comely goes as race 3 (12:50 p.m.).

Lewis Bay, owned by Alpha Delta Stables and trained by Chad Brown, won the Grade 2 Demoiselle on this same card last year. She came back here this spring to win the Grade 2 Gazelle, which like the Comely and the Demoiselle is a 1 1/8-mile, two-turn race over the main track.

Lewis Bay, who finished third in the Kentucky Oaks, didn’t win again until the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap last month at Belmont, which she dominated by 5 1/4 lengths, leading gate to wire under Irad Ortiz Jr.

“She showed a new dimension going to the lead, which was good to see,” Brown said. “She really relaxed nicely. I don’t think she’s one that necessarily needs the lead. She’s proven herself to be a very versatile horse.”

That Lewis Bay continues to excel this late in her 3-year-old season has impressed Brown.

“I really do think that potentially we’re starting to see the best of her despite having a long season,” he said. “You don’t see this too much; usually they start to tail off after a long campaign.”

Brown will also be represented in the Comely by Going for Broke, who was beaten seven lengths when second to Songbird in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga before finishing fifth to Forever Unbridled in the Grade 1 Beldame, run over a sloppy track.

Todd Pletcher will also send out two, led by Unbridled Mo, who has won four consecutive races, including the Monmouth Oaks and Remington Park Oaks. Mo d’Amour, Pletcher’s other starter, finished far behind Lewis Bay in last year’s Demoiselle and was third to her in the Gazelle.

In Saturday’s $300,000 Demoiselle, trainer Rudy Rodriguez sends out a trio of runners in Jamyson ‘n Ginger, Libby’s Tail, and Bonita Bianca.

The Demoiselle appears to be a deep race, with the well-bred Ladies Day coming off a six-length maiden win going six furlongs and Miss Sky Warrior stretching out off a narrow victory in the Grade 3 Tempted going a mile here three weeks ago.

COMELY (Race 3)KEY CONTENDERS

Lewis Bay, by Bernardini

Last 3 Beyers: 92-80-90

◗ Comes off a career-best effort in the Turnback the Alarm, where she went to the front and never looked back. She may employ similar tactics here in a race void of early-pace types.

Unbridled Mo, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 91-84-73

◗ She is 4 for 4 around two turns, including a 1 1/2-length victory in the Remington Park Oaks on Sept. 25. Family Tree, third in that race, came back to win Wednesday night’s Zia Park Oaks by 8 1/2 lengths.

“Think she’s getting better and better,” Pletcher said. “She’s trained well, and time in between races has done her well.”

Flora Dora, by First Dude

Last 3 Beyers: 93-59-74

◗ Finished second in the Tempted and a ran sneaky-good fourth in the Demoiselle over this track as a 2-year-old. She finished third to Songbird in the Coaching Club American Oaks.

DEMOISELLE (Race 6)

KEY CONTENDERS

Ladies Day, by Bernardini

Beyers: 77-46

◗ Second to runaway winner Runway Doll in the slop at Saratoga before getting sick. She came back with a good-looking six-length maiden win sprinting and has the pedigree to suggest that two turns is what she wants. Her dam, Connie Belle, is a half-sister to Wood Memorial winner Bob and John.

◗ Trainer Tom Albertrani said the way Ladies Day galloped out after her win “gave me every indication she wants to go further.”

Jamyson ‘n Ginger, by Bernardini

Last 3 Beyers: 69-103-67

◗ Freaked in the slop at Belmont to win by 15 1/4 lengths, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest figure by any 2-year-old filly this year.

◗ She was squeezed back in the early stages of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and rallied from last to be fifth, beaten six lengths. That effort was better than it may look on paper.

“She made a nice move and flattened out,” Rodriguez said.

Libby’s Tail, by Tiz Wonderful

Last 3 Beyers: 77-56-77

◗ Came off a two-month layoff to run second, beaten a head by Yellow Agate, in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont.

“I’m a little concerned about the distance, but we got to try it,” Rodriguez said. “She’s training super.”

◗ With Ortiz riding Jamyson ‘n Ginger, Javier Castellano has picked up the mount on Libby’s Tail.