Classy Class Stretches Out, Takes Salvatore Mile

A stretch out in distance finally resulted in a graded stakes win for Cheyenne Stables' Classy Class in the $100,000 Salvatore Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park June 17. 

Over a track rated fast, the 5-year-old son of Discreetly Mine led at every call under jockey Antonio Gallardo and won by 2 3/4 lengths at the wire for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. 

"I knew my horse liked being on the lead and there was a lot of speed to my inside," said Gallardo, who picked up the mount when jockey Paco Lopez was taken off his mounts Saturday, after he was kicked by a horse in the paddock before the first race. "Coming out of the first turn, he had an easy lead. He enjoyed being on the front and had a nice, long stride and never stopped. He hit the quarter pole and gave me another kick in the stretch."

Red Dragon Tattoo and Majestic Affair broke sharply and sped for the lead going into first turn, with Classy Class following. Then Gallardo moved Classy Class through on the inside to take control as the first quarter-mile went in :23.67.

As the bay runner comfortably cruised on the front end, he began to put more distance between himself and the field. He clocked a half-mile in :47.48 and six furlongs in 1:11.19 with a 1 1/2-length lead. Into the stretch Classy Class had a 2 1/2-length advantage, which he extended to 2 3/4 lengths at the finish in a final time for a mile in 1:35.27. 

Just Call Kenny went three wide on the far turn and closed from fifth to finish second by a neck over Adirondack King. Donegal Moon was another length back in fourth. 

Favorite Name Changer, Majestic Affair, Far From Over, Red Dragon Tattoo, and El Kabeir completed the order of finish. 

Off at 9-1 the winner returned $20.80, $10, and $6.40 across the board. 

 

Classy Class entered Saturday's race off a sixth-place finish in the six-furlong Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) May 20. His one other victory so far this year came in a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming allowance event at Aqueduct Racetrack April 13. Before that win he finished off the board in both the General George Stakes (G3) and Toboggan Stakes (G3). He finished winless with only two starts in 2016, but placed in both the Gotham and Withers stakes (both G3) as a 3-year-old in 2015. 

Bred by E Paul Robsham Stable, out of the grade 1-placed Saarland mare Collegiate, Classy Class went through the auction ring twice. First purchased as a yearling by Solis/Litt for $120,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale, he was pinhooked to the Ocala Breeders' Sales March sale, where he was purchased by Cheyenne Stables for $250,000. He now boasts a record of five wins and four thirds from 18 total starts, with earnings of $426,100.