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Classic Point edges Princess Violet in Go for Wand
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| Classic Point (No. 10)
battled back along the inside to
regain the lead
(Chelsea Durand/Coglianese Photo) |
Joseph Shields Jr.'s homebred Classic Point surrendered the lead in deep
stretch of Friday's Grade 3, $300,000
Go for
Wand but courageously fought back to defeat Princess Violet on the wire,
posting a nose decision in one-mile event at Aqueduct.
The New York-bred mare has discovered her best form at age five for trainer
Jimmy Jerkens, following her first stakes triumph in the restricted Punkin Pie
with another fine performance, and paid $18.40 to win as the 8-1 fourth choice
among 11 rivals.
Angel Arroyo was up as the chestnut daughter of Flatter stopped the
teletimer in 1:37 3/5 on the "good" main track.
Sweet Whiskey showed the way early as Classic Point tracked her in second
through opening splits in :23 4/5, :47 2/5 and 1:12 3/5. Classic Point
overhauled the pacesetter approaching midstretch but the rallying Princess
Violet was charging fast on the outside. That rival stuck a head in front in the
final sixteenth of a mile before Classic Point gamely battled back to win the
head-bobbing photo finish. Princess Violet, the 2-1 favorite, and wound up 2 1/4 lengths better than
23-1 longshot Moment in Dixie in third. |
Out of the Langfuhr mare Discerning, Classic Point earned her first stakes
placing last year when second in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss and filled the same
position in the 2013 Punkin Pie. The reformed claimer broke her maiden for a
$16,000 tag in 2012 and proved durable despite inconsistent form earlier in her
career, making 13 starts in 2013.
Unplaced in her first five stakes attempts this year, Classic Point appears
to have really turned the corner over the last seven weeks. She registered a
career-best 99 BRIS Speed rating for her 6 1/4-length win in the October 13
Punkin Pie and continued to move forward against open rivals in the Go for Wand,
increasing her career earnings to $548,034 from a 30-7-4-1 record.
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