Comely Has a Lot to Offer

The Comely Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct has a lot to offer the 10 3-year-old fillies that passed the entry box for the Nov. 27 race. With only one 2013 graded stakes winner in the field, there is plenty of black type to be earned, along with plenty of money. The $400,000 purse is sizable for its grade III status.



The Comely is the second of four graded stakes on the Cigar Mile (gr. I) card. The race goes as the seventh on the program with an estimated post time of 2:51 p.m. EST.



The lone graded winner in the field is Alpha Delta Stables' Sky Girl, winner of the seven-furlong Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs Sept. 21. However, it's Michael Dubb's My Happy Face and the up-and-coming Wedding Toast who will draw a lot of the attention.



My Happy Face, trained by Chad Brown, has had a well-spaced five-start campaign this year. After winning the Lotka Stakes in the mud at Belmont Park at a mile in June, she stretched out and fell short to Princess of Sylmar in the nine-furlong Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course. Next out, she rallied sharply to just miss catching the dueling Sweet Lulu and Wildcat Lilyin the seven-furlong Test Stakes (gr. I). The daughter of Tiz Wonderful   then ran third behind Close Hatches, Sweet Lulu, and Comely rival Street Girl in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) at Parx Racing. The drop in class should suit.



Darley-bred Wedding Toast has passed the test to move from Darley runner to the elite Godolphin Racing stable for the Maktoum family off three successive wins. The daughter of Street Sense   broke her maiden at second asking July 29 at the Spa, then crushed foes in a one-turn mile allowance/optional claimer at Belmont Park and the $100,000 Belle Cherie Stakes over Big Sandy Oct. 25. She is the third foal out of Golden Sheba, a half sister to two-time Cigar Mile winner Congaree  .



The talent pool is deep in this running of the Comely.



Teen Pauline returns to the main track after three turf tries for Stonestreet Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher. The ran third in last year's Spinaway Stakes (gr. I).



Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Marathon Lady, by Graeme Hall  , has placed in five graded stakes this year, including a pair of grade Is. She missed by a neck to Fiftyshadesofhay earlier this year in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at the Comely distance.



Harold Queen's Sheer Drama set a track record at Laurel Park in September, then tired late to finish just behind Wedding Toast in the Belle Cherie.



Toasting, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, comes in off a win in the $100,000 Dream Rush Stakes at Belmont in late October.



Rontos Racing Stable's Street Girl, by Street Hero  , was not only third in the Cotillion, but fifth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.



$400,000, Comely Stakes (gr. III, race 7, approximate post time 2:51 p.m. EST), 3YO fillies, 1 1/8 miles (dirt)

PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1, Flash Forward (KY), L. Saez, 118, D. Schettino

2, Wedding Toast (KY), J. Castellano, 118, K. McLaughlin

3, Teen Pauline (KY), R. Bejarano, 116, T. Pletcher

4, My Happy Face (KY), J. Rosario, 120, P. Miller

5, Marathon Lady (FL), M. Smith, 116, S. Hobby

6, Sky Girl (KY), J. Alvarado, 116, W. Mott

7, Sheer Drama (FL), I Ortiz Jr., 116, A. Dutrow

8, Galloping Giraffe (KY), R. Maragh, 116, T. Pletcher

9, Toasting (FL), J. L. Ortiz, 116, T. Albertrani

10, Street Girl (KY), J. Lezcano, 118, E. Kenneally