Actress Puts on Show in Comely Stakes

After failing to earn a placing in a pair of grade 1 tries, Actress thrived under some class relief Nov. 24 in the $250,000 Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Ractrack.

In Friday's race for 3-year-old fillies, Gary and Mary West homebred Actress put away Miss Sky Warrior coming out of the turn of the 1 1/8-mile test and drew off to an 8 1/4-length score. The easy win snapped a three-race skid for the daughter of Tapit , dating back to her maiden victory in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

Off that Pimlico win, trainer Jason Servis pointed Actress to the Delaware Oaks (G3), where she finished third, before she earned a fourth-place finish in her first grade 1 stakes, the Alabama at Saratoga Race Course. Actress then finished sixth in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) Sept. 23 at Parx Racing before getting some rest ahead of Friday's effort.

Early in the Comely, Actress and jockey Jose Ortiz tracked from third as Run and Go led through a quarter-mile in :25.34 and half-mile in :49.85. Miss Sky Warrior pursued from second and took the lead through six furlongs in 1:14.07 but Actress had moved to her outside and would take command coming out of the far turn.

Tapit homebreds registered a one-two finish as Phipps Stable's Parade, in her stakes debut, rallied to just edge favorite and multiple grade 2 winner Miss Sky Warrior for second. Actress completed the race in 1:52.66 leaving Servis satisfied about his decision to add blinkers.

"I thought she ran super. With putting on the blinkers, that is always satisfying because sometimes you try something, and another thing happens," Servis said. "We felt the blinkers would help her; just kind of saving them for an ace in the hole. It was nice to get a win with Jose (Ortiz), too.

"I think Jose read the Form really good going into the race and made the decision that he wouldn't let someone get an easy lead."

Actress returned $7.30, $3.70, and $2.80 across the board while Parade paid $5.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Miss Sky Warrior paid $2.70 to show. Ortiz said Actress enjoyed the 1 1/8-mile distance.

"It was a clear run to the first turn and I didn't take a hold of her; I let her go on her own and I let her take the position that she wanted," Ortiz said. "I just sat on her until the quarter-pole. The longer she goes, the better it is for her. I just want to thank Jason and the owners for giving me the opportunity." 

Actress is the first starter out of grade 1-placed Canadian champion Milwaukee Appeal, by Milwaukee Brew.