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

Prior to today’s 12th running of the Comely, our pre-race favorite was announced as a scratch.  Minda was coming off a second place finish earlier this month in the Maple Leaf and as long as she was ready to roll here, her chances looked good.  Trainer John Henry called an audible on that decision prior to the race, and we were left with a field of six.   Graphene was coming into the race on a great run, and was coming off a third place performance in the Grade 1 Zenyatta for trainer Heavens Own, and she would be made the post-time favorite.  This talented direct progeny from Charley Farley would not disappoint her supporters and earns what is her first career graded win.   It is the first win for the trainer in the stake, but the jockey, R Bejarano has gotten used to winning this race, earning his third such victory, all coming in the last five years.  Congratulations to the winners!  The time of the race was 1:48.36 and the quickest of the three editions of this race which were held at the nine furlong distance.  Let’s look at a bit more, now.

1st- 6- Graphene (4/5)- Today’s eventual winner, from Heavens Own, got off to a steady to start, and looked as though she was thinking about closely stalking the pacesetting Effortless Admiral. She was a little more then a length back in the opening turn, but in the backstretch she did not want to run as quickly as the leader, and dropped back two additional lengths from her.  This would put her in a position about three and a half off, and running alongside Heart Nebulae. Maintained this distance for the duration of the backstretch trip and moving into the turn. Once in the turn, both she and Heart Nebulae were slowly slicing into the lead, but Effortless Admiral was showing that she would not make it easy to pass her.  On exit of the turn, there was still two lengths to go, and R Bejarano made a power move to the outside of the leader, which gained her what looked to be an important half length on Heart Nebulae before that one too, made a similar move.   At the top of the stretch, the pass was complete, but the bigger challenge would be holding off Heart Nebulae.  The two of them ran even for a while, but in the final furlong, Graphene started showing she was going to be just a little bit better.  She picks up the win in a time of 1:48.36! Graphene is a three year old filly by the great Charley Farley, and out of Hindsight Material (Jolly Be Great).  She was bred in Ontario by Team 7 Illusions as a yearling and acquired by Heavens Own in private sales in July 2015, for $115.000.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 5- Heart Nebulae (4/1)- Got off to an average start for SamIam, and seemed as though she would run three wide with Sneak and Stellar in the early moments.  Though, prior to reaching the backstretch, she moved forward within the field and took over the second spot.  Ran alongside Graphene most of the way, and her response to make a move seemed reactionary to when Graphene made hers.  The two of them looked good in the stretch, but they merely matched strides.  That was not good enough when you were already a half length behind the one you wanted to catch.  Lost some ground in the dying moments. Still, a strong performance by this filly overall.

3rd- 7- Effortless Admiral (7/2)- Effortlessly, this filly from Ekli Stable broke strongly out of the gate and quickly assumed the top spot.  For a little while Graphene may have wanted to chase her, but when she backed off, Effortless Admiral saw her lead increase quickly in the backstretch.  She ran a half in :47.96 and six furlongs in 1:11.74.  Passed at the top of the stretch, and packed it in with a furlong to go.

4th- 1- Sneak (22/1)- Our longshot from Night Mare Racing was slow out of the gate, but was able to maintain her position along the rail at the very least.  Around the turn and into the backstretch, she would be fifth and trailed Effortless Admiral by about five.  Unfortunately for the trainer, there was never any type of closing drive, and the best she could do would be holding off Stellar.

5th- 4- Stellar (7/1)- The M.b.o. Racing Stable entry got off to an average start, and seemed to just want to ride along towards the back of the field and keep Sneak company into the backstretch.  Those of us who were waiting for her to make a forward become very disappointed, and she would not look stellar today.

6th- 2- Looknlisten (36/1)– Broke poorly out of the gate for D J C Racing Stables, taking herself out of contention early.  She’s come from behind before, but she was well out of it throughout. In better news, the trainer announced her retirement after the race, and she has already had time to hook up with Diplomatic Immunity and produce a foal.

Track: Fast
Time: :47⁴  1:11³  1:36   1:48¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 5 Paid 5.60
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 5 – 7 Paid 13.00

Scratched: Minda

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES