Sixtythreecaliber Outguns Kathleen O. in Comely
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Sixtythreecaliber holds off Kathleen O. in the Comely Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm's Sixtythreecaliber fended off a late rally from post-time favorite Kathleen O. to score the first graded win of her career in the $175,000 Comely Stakes (G3) for sophomore fillies traveling 1 1/8 miles Nov. 25 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Tom Amoss, Sixtythreecaliber extended her win streak to three-in-a-row after a last-out victory in the Seneca Overnight Stakes Sept. 24 at Churchill Downs and an optional claiming score in August at Horseshoe Indianapolis with Edgar Morales in the irons. It was her second attempt at a graded victory after distant fourth-place finish in the Indiana Oaks (G3) in July.
"She's a horse that has started—with all due respect to the other racetracks—in more minor league types of races, speaking comparatively to the New York racing circuit. But she is certainly no minor league horse," Amoss said. "She used those races to build confidence, and it showed up today."
With Kendrick Carmouche up for the first time, Sixtythreecaliber broke from post 2 and settled in second behind Tizzy in the Sky , who stumbled slightly from the outermost post 8 and rushed up to lead the field to the first turn through an opening quarter-mile in :24.63 seconds over the fast main track.
Positions remained unchanged down the backstretch as Tizzy in the Sky completed the half-mile in :49.94, but the dynamics soon changed as Carmouche roused his mount for more and went on even terms with the pacesetter as the pair rounded the turn. Kathleen O., last of seven early, made steady progression into the turn under pressure from Javier Castellano and by the stretch call, was within striking range of her two rivals up front.
Sixtythreecaliber took a clear advantage into the stretch and soundly put away a tiring Tizzy in the Sky, but was quickly challenged by a closing Kathleen O. down the center of the racetrack. With strong encouragement from Carmouche, Sixtythreecaliber gamely fended off her determined foe to secure the half-length victory in a final time of 1:53.89.
"At the sixteenth pole, she kind of waited, and then as soon as she saw that horse, she pinned her ears and went right back at it again," Carmouche said.
The late-running Morning Matcha grabbed show honors by a neck over Falconet , with Tizzy in the Sky, Skratch Kat , and Nostalgic rounding out the order of finish. Pistol Liz Ablazen was scratched.
The bay daughter of Gun Runner became the 10th graded stakes winner for her red-hot sire and banked $96,250 while improving her record to 5-0-0 in seven starts. She returned $24.40 for a $2 win wager.
Amoss said the winner would base at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots this winter with a racing schedule to be determined.
Castellano praised the effort from the multiple graded stakes-winning Kathleen O., who made her first start off a six-month layoff after finishing fifth in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
Bred in Kentucky by Lee Pokoik, Sixtythreecaliber is out of the grade 1-placed Include mare Classofsixtythree . She is her dam's second graded stakes winner, following Gunmetal Gray , a grade 3 winner and grade 1-placed runner.
Classofsixtythree has produced 10 foals, eight starters, and five winners. Her youngest foal is a yearling filly by Into Mischief .
Sixtythreecaliber was a $250,000 purchase by her owners from the Eaton Sales consignment to the 2020 September Yearling Sale at Keeneland.