Classy Sadie, Jen’s Battle to target the Stillwater for New York-bred juvenile fillies
NYRA Press Office
Classy Sadie, off a maiden-breaking effort at second asking on June 20 at Belmont, could make her stakes debut in the $100,000 Stillwater for New York-bred juvenile fillies on July 18 at Saratoga, trainer Gary Contessa said Thursday.
Owned by Pines Stables, John Irwin, Paul Daley and Debra Ann Acri, Classy Sadie is one of two possible Contessa-trained entries targeting the Stillwater, which was run previously as the Lynbrook. Leonard Green’s Jen’s Battle, who ran third in her first start on June 23 at Belmont, is also expected to make the step up.
Classy Sadie, third in her first start on May 2 on the Belmont turf, posted a 3 ¾-length score in a fourhorse field to win a fivefurlong sprint taken off the turf on June 20 at Belmont. Following that effort, Contessa said he will keep the Emcee filly on the main track for her stakes bow.
“I’m thinking I might put both of them in that race,” Contessa said. “She won her last race pretty handily and came back good. She’s a good front-running option.”
Jen’s Battle, a daughter of Declaration of War, breezed Sunday on Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track, working four furlongs in 49.29 seconds.
“I ran her the first time and I expected her to win, but she broke bad and then started getting green from the dirt in her face,” Contessa said. “Then, she finally figured it out and came running going five-eighths. So, I really believe in her and think she’s a nice filly. I think the fact this race is six furlongs will help. She’s a little more seasoned and has that race under her belt. She’s a great come-from-behind option.”
Contessa said he will likely skip the $100,000 Rick Violette on July 17 with both Theitalianamerican and Justintimeforwine.
Owned by Monty Foss and John Moiranco, TheItalianamerican ran second in each of his first two starts, including last out when he was the runner-up to Fore Left in the Tremont on June 7 at Belmont.