Actress, Miss Sky Warrior dominate Comely Stakes
Miss Sky Warrior wins the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct. Photo: Coglianese Photos.
November 22nd, 2017
Proven class is always worth following when trying to assess a race, and that’s what Miss Sky Warrior and Actress have in their favor in the 1 1/8-mile Comely Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Nov. 24.
Actress has only won once in six starts, but it was a good one – the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico May 19. Following that she finished third in the Delaware Oaks (G3), fourth in the Alabama Stakes (G1), and sixth in the Cotillion Stakes (G1).
This field should be much easier, but in Miss Sky Warrior she has a worthy opponent. Following a fourth on debut, Miss Sky Warrior won five races in a row, four of them graded stakes races. Three of those graded stakes were at Aqueduct: the Tempted Stakes (G3), Demoiselle Stakes (G2), and Gazelle Stakes (G2).
The wins meant she started third favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, but she disappointed in finishing eighth. At her one subsequent start she set a quick pace early before fading to fourth in the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park Oct. 28. This is her first start at Aqueduct since the Gazelle Stakes.
The opponents for Actress and Miss Sky Warrior have a little bit to make up, but they get weight allowances to help. Bonita Bianca has run well in New York-bred races, picking up the New York Oaks and finishing third in the Empire Distaff Handicap. Earlier she finished third to Miss Sky Warrior in the Demoiselle. Analyze also has stakes form, winning the Winter Melody Stakes at Delaware Park Oct. 5.
You Know Too has some useful form, most notably when finishing fourth in the Delaware Oaks, where she was just half a length behind Actress. Todd Pletcher has two interesting runners in Tapella and Run and Go, both of which take on stakes company for the first time with two wins behind them. Parade and Crimson Frost, both two-time winners, complete the field.
Actress and Miss Sky Warrior should have a class edge, but don’t ignore You Know Too, and watch the market for Pletcher’s duo.
Actress has only won once in six starts, but it was a good one – the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico May 19. Following that she finished third in the Delaware Oaks (G3), fourth in the Alabama Stakes (G1), and sixth in the Cotillion Stakes (G1).
This field should be much easier, but in Miss Sky Warrior she has a worthy opponent. Following a fourth on debut, Miss Sky Warrior won five races in a row, four of them graded stakes races. Three of those graded stakes were at Aqueduct: the Tempted Stakes (G3), Demoiselle Stakes (G2), and Gazelle Stakes (G2).
The wins meant she started third favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, but she disappointed in finishing eighth. At her one subsequent start she set a quick pace early before fading to fourth in the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park Oct. 28. This is her first start at Aqueduct since the Gazelle Stakes.
The opponents for Actress and Miss Sky Warrior have a little bit to make up, but they get weight allowances to help. Bonita Bianca has run well in New York-bred races, picking up the New York Oaks and finishing third in the Empire Distaff Handicap. Earlier she finished third to Miss Sky Warrior in the Demoiselle. Analyze also has stakes form, winning the Winter Melody Stakes at Delaware Park Oct. 5.
You Know Too has some useful form, most notably when finishing fourth in the Delaware Oaks, where she was just half a length behind Actress. Todd Pletcher has two interesting runners in Tapella and Run and Go, both of which take on stakes company for the first time with two wins behind them. Parade and Crimson Frost, both two-time winners, complete the field.
Actress and Miss Sky Warrior should have a class edge, but don’t ignore You Know Too, and watch the market for Pletcher’s duo.
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