Stuyvesant

Evening Attire got back to his winning ways on Saturday (Uli Seit/Horsephotos.com)

EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) put the skeptics firmly in their

place by fighting hard to register a neck victory over a stubborn West Virginia

(Tomorrows Cat) in Saturday's

$108,600

Stuyvesant H. (G3) at Aqueduct. The final time for the

nine-furlong contest on a fast track was 1:51 1/5. The seven-year-old

campaigner, winless for more than a year since his victory in the Saratoga Breeders'

Cup H. (G2) in August 2004, asserted his class edge over his rivals and proved

that he's still a force to be reckoned with on the New York scene.

The race began with a stark twist in the expected plot. Kennel Up (Joyeux

Danseur), forecast to be the early leader, was caught napping at the break and

never recovered sufficiently to put himself in his preferred position. The

front-running mantle instead fell on the able shoulders of 2-1 favorite Aggadan

(Carnivalay), who waltzed through leisurely fractions of :25, :49 4/5, and 1:14.

Tracking the leader's every move, West Virginia then pounced to gain a narrow

advantage at the top of the stretch. However, Jose Santos had already guided Evening

Attire into closer striking position along the rail, and the gray was moving

ominously well as he angled out for a clear run through the lane. Still, there

was no quit in either West Virginia or Aggadan, both resolutely staying on.

Evening Attire had a real battle on his hands, but in the waning yards, he

summoned his reserves of class to thrust his neck in front at the wire.

Coupled with entrymate Dr. Rockett (Regal Classic), who trailed home last of

six, Evening Attire was sent off as the lukewarm 7-2 third choice, paying $9,

$4.20 and $2.60, while crowning an exacta worth $42.60. West Virginia returned

$5.30 and $2.80, and Aggadan was good for $2.20 while completing the $98.50

trifecta (1-4-2). The tardy Kennel Up managed fourth, followed by Spite the

Devil (Devil His Due) and Dr. Rockett.