CT Classic (Grade 2)- $1,000.000 Purse
CT- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
August 22, 2025

The CT Classic is a race that has been won by many true greats of our virtual world. Now, Berlin, perhaps not the first horse that comes to mind when thinking about those that are trained by The Sidley Stud, will add his name to that impressive list. Berlin has had a great career, earning over $2,100.000 coming into this Grade 2, now earns one of the biggest wins of that career. Not too shabby for a horse that was once claimed for $7.000 in early 2023. He is trained by The Sidley Stud, who earns his first win in the CT Classic. The winning rider is P Lopez, his second such win as he also won this race last year. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1;47.48, equaling the third fastest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it:

(½ Mile- :46.83)- Breaking the quickest out of the gate are Grit And Grind and Bonus Baby, respectively trained by Mb Stables and Night Rider Stables, and they will show the way around the track over the opening half mile. Our eventual winner and also our pick to win, The Sidley Stud’s Berlin, is not going to let them get too far in front and assumes a stalking position while running in the third lane. To his inside are Mb Stables’ South China Sea and Nakamura Stables’ Handle The Storm. Shadow Senator (Arindel) is right behind them, and then we have a large gap to the two trailers, The Stranger (Jerry Garcia Racing) and Doc Rivers (D J C Racing Stables).

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.82)- Moving down the backstretch, Grit And Grind is half a length ahead of Bonus Baby, but right behind them, Berlin is looking to make his run on them. It has not begun yet, but P Lopez is positioning him to go three wide around them within the turn and it might not be long before we see him strike. South China Sea does not show the same interest as of now, and Handle The Storm is not handling this storm at all. Shadow Senator is still sixth, and it remains a long way back to The Stranger and Doc Rivers.

(Top of Stretch, 1F To Go)- At the top of the turn, P Lopez does indeed ask Berlin to make his move, and the Ginger Haggis gelding will be even with them at the top of the stretch. Neither Grit And Grind nor Bonus Baby were going to let this be an easy pass and tried to hang in there. South China Sea was now beginning to show his interest but still had not committed to lane to try and make the pass. Shadow Senator ran evenly with these, as Handle The Storm packed it in. The Stranger and Doc Rivers made only minor gains.

(Finish- 1:47.48)- Within the stretch, Berlin would not overpower his rivals, but he was clearly the best, gradually inching away from Grit And Grind and Bonus Baby with every stride to go and win by a length. Grit And Grind and Bonus Baby will go second and third, with South China Sea merely running evenly to be fourth. Shadow Senator never got involved, but does defeat The Stranger, Doc Rivers, and Handle The Storm.

About The Winner- Berlin, trained by The Sidley Stud and ridden to victory by P Lopez, is a seven-year-old gelding by Ginger Haggis and is out of the late Flashy Mach. She was bred in California as a third quarter two year by Patterson Stables, and acquired by The Sidley Stud, via Oneonta Racing, with a $7.000 claim in March 2023. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his twelfth in 33 starts, his eighth stake win and seventh graded win. His career earnings are now $2,739.620.

Track: Fast
Time: :46⁴  1:10⁴  1:35¹  1:47²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 3 Paid 40.90
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 3 – 6 Paid 277.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES