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G2 Mother Goose second for Classic Fit

Racenews

Classic Fit ran very well to finish second in the G2 Mother Goose Stakes over an extended mile on dirt at Belmont Park, USA, on Saturday, 29 June.

It was the first start of 2019 for the three-year-old Bernardini filly, trained by Michael Stidham and ridden by Jose Lezcano, who made the running at a steady pace, with the first quarter-mile taking 24.34s and the half-mile 49.13s.

She was briefly headed on the final turn, but regained the lead after straightening up.

Classic Fit could not contend with the burst of speed inside the final furlong of the winner, Dunbar Road, who scored by two and a half lengths in 1m 43.54s, but kept on gamely, finishing four lengths ahead of the third Jeltrin.

Michael Stidham said: “I was very, very pleased with that performance.

“She had been training so well that we wanted to try her in this race and she gave us a thrill.

“That is an awfully nice filly who beat us – I am proud of Classic Fit.

“We were testing deep waters in this race and there are so many Graded Stakes opportunities open to her now. I imagine we will keep her at a mile or a mile and an eighth.”

Classic Fit has been successful on three of her five starts and finished second and third on the other two. Her victories have all come at a mile - in the Hut Hut Stakes on dirt at Gulfstream Park in December, an allowance optional claimer on Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs in October and a Monmouth Park maiden on dirt in September.