The Comely (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
AQU- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 26, 2016

Three year old fillies will enjoy what is probably their last chance to run only against their age group in the 13th running of the Grade 3 Comely at the Big A on Saturday.   It is a race that has seem many successful fillies bring home the victory, including Google Maps last year for Aml Racing.   Blow Me To The Moon and Devil Wears Prada are two other recent past winners of the event.  Originally, the race debuted on our calendar being just a mile long, and the ninth furlong was added in 2014.  That was the same year the purse size doubled from $200.000 to $400.000, but such a purse increase proved to be short-lived.  Last year saw it cut back to $300.000, and now here we are at $250.000.  This has not stopped us from having a quality field that looks to be very balanced, altogether.

#1- Sneak (Night Mare Racing, ridden by J Rosario)- On the rail, this Sneaky Little Pirate filly has been lightly raced this year, as she will make just her fifth start.   It’s not her stake debut, as she did run, and place third, in a Grade 3 in October last year though was never able to build on that race.  After some time off, she had some decent runs, but only in her last race did she finally get back to the winners circle, taking an allowance at BEL.  If she can duplicate that run, though, she can surprise those who may be inclined to look past her here.

#2- Looknlisten (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by R J Albarado)- Got off to a good start this year in the $150.000 Silverbulletday Stakes, but since then her elevation into graded company has not seen her pick up another win. In her seven attempts at this level, she has only been able to hit the board a single time, running third in the MTH Oaks.  More recently, she took on a strong field in the mini-BC Distaff aka as the Cotillion at PRX and was tenth, though three lengths out.  That’s par for the course for her recent performances in that she always seems to be close, but just can’t come out on top.  This is the type of horse that may just need a little luck, because the talent is there.

#3- Minda (John Henry, ridden by R Alvarado Jr)- She has consistently been racing against the best in the division all year, appearing in the KYO, The Acorn, and The Alabama, among others. Of course, those three races combined for a pair of 7th place efforts and a 10th.   Some new hope may have come to fruition though following a come from behind second place finish in the Grade 1 Zenyatta at SA in October.  She has already run this month, doing so on BC weekend north of the border in the Maple Leaf, where she was a distant second.   If this is a turnaround of form, then she can handle this field, as long as she’s not too tired.

#4- Stellar (M.b.o. Racing Stable, ridden by J L Ortiz)- Prior to this season, she had shown flashes of her stellar abilities, but it didn’t result in a big win until the NY-bred $250.000 Critical Eye in late May.  She only needed to beat two others there, so some could have still been critical of her, but after that she ran third in a pair of Grade 3’s.  One of many in here to run in the mini BC-Distaff otherwise known as the Cotillion in September, Stellar has shown the knack to be able to run with the lead group, but has not really proven that she can win at this level yet.   Having said that, I really like her potential at this exact distance, and any critical eye could be closed here.

#5- Heart Nebulae (SamIam, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This filly is the only coming into this race having run in the BC, where she competed in the Distaff, and finished 7th.  It was a race where she spent too much time lollygagging around in the back of the field, and by the time she made her move, and it was strong when it finally came, it was too little too late.  Prior races have shown her be closer to the front early, and that’s where I am hoping to see her in this race. Although, the flip side can also be said to say she’s not running against Wicked Heat and Notarized Kate today, and against this crowd the same type of close would be good enough.

#6- Graphene (Heavens Own, ridden by R Bejarano)- This direct filly from Charley Farley, one of two in the field, has put forth a strong 2016 season with four wins in seven starts. Those wins come in different types of races, with the biggest score coming at beautiful Saratoga Race Course in the $100.000 Summer Colony.  Most recently, she ran in the Zenyatta and came from behind to be third in the race, so it was nice graded debut for her.  If she is just beginning to get in her best form here, then she can take this field.  A win here should definitely have us list her as a filly to watch moving into next season.

#7- Effortless Admiral (Ekli Stable, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- On the outside, this filly has done a good job getting near the front at the end of a race in a heavy dose of Grade 3 events throughout this season.  After four second place finishes in her first six graded efforts, she was finally able to win one of them in September, coming at CD in the Locust Grove.   Her last start saw her take on Looknlisten in the Turn Back The Alarm, and she would run third while setting the pace, though was ahead of that rival she sees here again.  I am not sensing a lot of pace in this, so this race could set up well for her running style.

Prediction: 3-5-4-6

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES