Weather to Determine Holiday Plans for Classic Fit

Like millions of Americans, trainer Michael Stidham will be checking with the weatherman before finalizing Thanksgiving travel plans. In Stidham's case, it's what Mother Nature has in store for Ozone Park, N.Y., in the next few days that will be of particularly interest.

His original plan called for running Godolphin's grade 2-placed Classic Fit Nov. 29 in the $200,000 Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, giving her a final opportunity in a stakes restricted to 3-year-old fillies. Yet he hedged a bit by also entering the 3-year-old homebred daughter of Bernardini  in the Winter Memories Stakes, a $150,000 1 1/16 miles turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies Nov. 28 at the Big A.

While Classic Fit debuted with a third on turf last year and Stidham would like to eventually return to her to grass, his interest in the Winter Memories was sparked solely by the possibility of rain that could force a switch to the main track.

"We cross-entered in the Winter Memories, looking at the weather. Maybe it will come off the grass, and if it does, we'll consider running there," Stidham said. "If not we'll go in the Comely. We're considering getting her back on the turf at some point, but not there."

Current forecasts call for a 40% chance of p.m. showers at Aqueduct Nov. 27 and a partly cloudy, windy day on Thanksgiving, leaving plans in limbo at the moment for a filly with experience on turf, dirt, and synthetics.

After finishing third in an Aug. 9 maiden special weight test on turf at Laurel Park last year, Classic Fit moved to the main track and the filly out of the Forestry mare True Style closed out her 2-year-old campaign with three straight wins, capped by a victory in the Hut Hut Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Given six months off, she returned in the June 29 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park where she finished second by 2 1/2 lengths to eventual Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Dunbar Road. 

Yet after that highly promising debut at 3, Classic Fit went into a tailspin, finishing seventh by nearly 20 lengths in the Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. She was an improved third last time out in the Remington Park Oaks (G3), losing by 8 1/4 lengths. Stidham is hopeful his filly is about to enter a strong form cycle after bouncing off her effort in the Mother Goose.

"It almost seems like she did a little too much in the Mother Goose and didn't recover from it and now it looks like she's starting to come back our way now. That's what we are hoping for," Stidham said. "She's a big, good-looking filly who trains well in the morning and we're hoping to get her back to her race in the Mother Goose, which puts her in the mix."

Should Classic Fit run in the Comely, she will be ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz Jr. The 1 1/8-mile dirt stakes promises to be a barometer for Classic Fit, who will meet up again with Gold Standard, who was second in the Remington Park Oaks, ahead of her by 7 3/4 lengths.

Video: Remington Park Oaks (G3)

Owned by Stonestreet Stables and L N J Foxwoods and trained by Brad Cox, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro  was bred by Don Alberto Corporation and was bought by Stonestreet for $1.2 million from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment in 2018 at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected sale of 2-year-olds in training in Florida. She originally went to Hades Stables for $200,000 from the Gainesway consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The Remington Park Oaks marked Gold Standard's stakes debut and she turned in a fine effort, contesting the pace and finishing second by a half-length to Lady Apple, third earlier this year in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Gold Standard posted a trio of consecutive wins in allowance and maiden races prior to the Remington Park Oaks, her last start. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will ride her for the first time Friday.

"She's had time off between her last start and this one, and it's her last chance to run against 3-year-old fillies and we're looking forward to it," Cox said. "She's given us a good effort every time and we look forward to the same (in the Comely). We think she has a big future and will improve with age as well."

The Comely's field of eight also includes Mathis Stable's Bellera, who was also cross entered as a main track only starter in the Winter Memories by trainer Todd Pletcher. A daughter of Bernardini , Bellera was bred in Florida by Hardacre Farm. Second by a neck in an Oct. 6 allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland, she was then squeezed, bobbled over a fallen horse, and lost jockey Jose Lezcano at the start of the Nov. 2 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct in her stakes debut. John Velazquez will hop aboard Friday.

Also on hand will be Michael Dubb, Coyle Boys Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Bethlehem Stables' Stand for the Flag, a Super Saver  filly who is coming off a Parx Racing allowance win for trainer Jason Servis; and Gunpowder Farms, Millennium Farms, Gainesway Stables, and LNJ Foxwoods' Arrifana, a Curlin  filly who is undefeated in four starts for trainer Kelly Rubley, numbering three wins at Laurel Park and an allowance triumph at Saratoga Race Course in those tries.

The Comely is the eighth race at Aqueduct on a 10-race card with two other stakes. Post time for Comely is approximately 3:15 p.m. EST. The 11:50 a.m. card also includes the $150,000 Gio Ponti Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and the $150,000 Forever Together Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Entries: Comely S. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Friday, November 29, 2019, Race 8

• Grade III
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 3:15 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Stand for the Flag (KY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Jason Servis	6/1
2	2Gold Standard (KY)	Javier Castellano	120	Brad H. Cox	2/1
3	3Bellera (FL)	John R. Velazquez	118	Todd A. Pletcher	4/1
4	4Arrifana (KY)	Julian Pimentel	120	Kelly Rubley	9/5
5	5Lightscameraaction (KY)	Joe Bravo	120	Chris M. Block	15/1
6	6Afleet Destiny (KY)	Anthony Salgado	118	Uriah St. Lewis	30/1
7	7Classic Fit (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	120	Michael Stidham	10/1
8	8Oxy Lady (KY)	Declan Cannon	122	Jack Sisterson	15/1