9 AQU The Empire Classic
$300.000 1 1/8m 3yo&Up Foaled in NY
The centerpiece for NY breds was the 2019 running of The Empire Classic and was billed by yours truely as a wide open race. I think the day proved that many of the races were just that and some fantastic payoffs were out there. Sent off as a middle pick at 9/1, Sharis Stables’ Brady Is A Lady used a middle-of-the-pack kick to get the job done in 1:474 and won the $300.000 stakes by a length. Texas Flood was second, also somewhat ignored at 12/1 and a length better than 77/1 outsider Kris Kross in third, with post time favorite Having A Blast in fourth.
The field of nine lined up in the gate, right in front of the AQU crowd and they were away in good order with Having A Blast away well from the outside, Kris Kross back towards the middle of the pack and Singapore on his flank. Down towards the rail, Brady Is A Lady, Demon between horses and Texas Flood skimming the rail. Topside and Fox News were next, and Curveball was the early trailer.
The made the short run to the clubhouse turn and around the turn to the backside with six and a half furlongs to run and Having A Blast continued to show the way by two. Singapore giving chase with Kris Kross to his inside, a length back, then another half length back to Texas Flood on the rail. Another length to Brady Is A Lady, covering Demon on the inside, then a gap of two back to Fox News, Topside to his inside and Curveball could still see them all.
Down the backside and nearing the far turn, a half mile left to run and Having A Blast was having it all his way, in front by nearly three lengths. Singapore three wide, Kris Kross between horses and Texas Flood continuing to save ground from the inside. Brady Is A Lady a length behind that threesome, Demon a length back to his inside, Topside on the rail, Fox News three wide and Curveball was still last of all, now trailing the field.
Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, just a quarter of a mile to run and it was still all about Having A Blast by two. Singapore wasn’t going away, Kris Kross to his inside and Texas Flood still skimming the paint as Brady Is A Lady now moved up to make it four across the track, in hot pursuit of the leader. A gap of a length and a half back to Demon between horses, Topside along the rail and Fox News three wide, while Curveball continued to trail.
Down the stretch and inside the furlong marker, Having A Blast was no longer having a blast as Brady Is A Lady was attacking from the outside, Texas Flood using the ground saving trip to be a contender. Singapore and Kris Kross were still right there, the a length back to Fox News from the outside, Topside on the rail and Demon next to him and it was just not in the cards for Curveball today.
Deep stretch and to the wire, Brady Is A Lady full of run and cruising by Having A Blast, Texas Flood continuing on well from the inside and Kris Kross finding his best stride… but as they hit the wire, this was all about Brady Is A Lady, getting the job done by a length. Texas Flood making the most of the trip and taking the second spot with Kris Kross passing a tiring Having A Blast for third and fourth. Topside was fifth, Singapore tiring a bit to be sixth, Fox News in seventh, Demon in eighth and Curveball closed this one out.
Brady Is A Lady is a bay 3yo colt by Buffalo Rising – Drunken Sailor, by Tree Of Knowledge, and was bred in NY by his owner, Sharis Stables. This was his third win from thirteen starts and he now has earnings of $670.800. Congratulations to the connections and to this talented colt.
3 – Brady Is A Lady 20.30 10.30 8.10
1 – Texas Flood 15.60 11.80
5 – Kris Kross 104.20
$1 Exacta (3/1) 90.00 $1 Tri (3/1/5) 1287.00
Categories: Ungraded
