Classic Point Wins Photo Finish in Go For Wand
Classic Point (inside) won a stretch battle with Princess Violet to come out victorious in the Go For Wand.
In a thrilling finish down to the wire, Classic Point and jockey Angel Arroyo held off a late charge by Princess Violet to win by a nostril in the Grade 3, $300,000 Go For Wand Handicap Friday at Aqueduct Racetrack. It was the first graded stakes win for the 5-year-old mare, and her seventh lifetime victory overall.
Winner of the Punkin Pie Stakes last time out Oct. 13 at Belmont, Classic Point sat close down the backstretch and inherited the lead from pace-setting Sweet Whiskey at the top of the stretch, fighting off the late rally from Princess Violet to win.
Moment in Dixie came on to be third at 24-1. Final time for the one-turn dirt mile was 1:37.78.
Classic Point is now two-for-three for trainer Jimmy Jerkens; her previous trainer was Jimmy's father, Allen.
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"I got a little nervous; she was acting up in the gate and she broke a little slow," said Jerkens. "She's got a big cruising speed and Angel did a good job of getting her up in there, but not getting into a head and head battle. After I saw the first quarter-mile, that she was laying where she was, that's just galloping for her. She's a big, rangy mare and it was like a gallop for her to go that slow the first part. That was the whole ticket to even the race out. At first, I thought the other filly got to her and might have gotten her head down, but then I watched it again and thought we did."
Classic Point added blinkers for her stakes score in the Punkin Pie, and kept them on for the Go For Wand.
"I don't know if it was just the blinkers; I think it's usually a combination of things that makes them win," said Jerkens. "She's just gotten bigger and stronger since Saratoga. Her last race was great and she got some confidence back."
A Florida-bred owned by breeder Joseph V. Shields, Jr., Classic Point is a daughter of Claiborne Farm's Flatter out of the Langfuhr mare Discerning.
Fourth was Sweet Whiskey, followed by Playful Love, Street Girl, Willet, Tapit's World, Zucchini Flower, Geeky Gorgeous, and Endless Chatter. Snowbell was scratched.
