In an impressive performance at Monmouth Park on Sunday, July 12, 2015, Lady Shipman, with jockey Eduardo Nunez riding, romped to a 6-1/4-length victory over Jewel of the Cat in the $60,000 Klassy Briefcase Stakes.
Finishing third in the eight-horse field for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up was Joya Real.
Lady Shipman, a 3-year-old by Midshipman-Sumthingtotalkabt, by Mutakddim, finished the 5-1/2-furlong race on a track rated firm in 1:01.59.
“She was really impressive today,” said Kathleen O’Connell, who trains Lady Shipman for Ranlo Investments. “I know she’s a real nice filly and taking on older horses for the first time today she really showed how good she is. The best thing with her is her mind. She doesn’t let anything bother her. She ships well and does everything perfectly.”
With the win, Lady Shipman now has six wins, 2 thirds and $200,000 in earnings in eight career starts.
The Klassy Briefcase Stakes is named after Klassy Briefcase, a record-setting filly.
Klassy Briefcase, who is by Medieval Man-Leather Gallery, by The Pruner, was foaled in New Jersey on April 15, 1985.
After winning her first race – a maiden special weight at Rockingham Park on July 31, 1987, she went on to win a number of stakes races during her career.
In 1988, she won the Primonetta Stakes at Monmouth, the Princess Rooney Stakes at Meadowlands, the Fair Haven Handicap at Monmouth and the Candy Éclair Stakes, also at Monmouth.
Then in 1999, she won the Seton Hall University Stakes at the Meadowlands and the Park Heights Handicap at Pimlico.
In her final year of racing in 1991, she won the Nauvoo Stakes and the West Long Branch Stakes, both at Monmouth.
In her final race on Aug. 22, 1991, she travelled over to England and finished ninth in the Weight for Ages Stakes in York.
In total, Klassy Briefcase finished her racing career with 18 wins, six seconds, one third and $362,959 in earnings in 42 career starts.
In addition, she set three records in her career. In 1990, she set a 5-furlong record at Pimlico of :56 3/5 in the Park Heights Handicap.
She also set a world record at Monmouth for 5-furlongs of :54 4/5, and another 5-furlong record on the turf “Red Course” at Monmouth of :56.
Following her retirement, she had a successful breeding career. In 2008, Klassy was retired, her owners, Dan Kelliher and Lara Levine, and donated to Old Friends.
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Klassy Briefcase enjoyed her retirement at Old Friends, the
Thoroughbred retirement far in Georgetown, Ky., from 2008 until Sept. 19, 2013,
when she died due to the infirmities of old age. (Photo by Rick Capone)
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Klassy passed away on Sept. 19, 2013, due to the infirmities of old age. She was 28.
According to the Old Friends website, “A New Jersey bred, Klassy Briefcase was campaigned by owners Dan Kelliher and Lara Levine and was long considered not only one of the fastest sprinters of the Mid-Atlantic circuit, but also one of the fastest mares of her generation.”
Upon her death, Michael Blowen, owner and founder of Old Friends said, “Klassy with a K was Classy with a C as well. Her intelligent demeanor and kind disposition made her one of Old Friend's most popular retirees. She will be missed.”
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On Saturday, July 11, at Arlington Park, The Pizza Man, who was ridden by jockey Florent Geroux, ran between two horses coming out of the final turn and then came flying down the stretch towards the finish line.
At the wire, The Pizza Man got his head in front of Roman Approval, who had led the entire race, at the wire to win the $100,000 Stars and Stripes (G3) stakes for the second year in a row.
Finishing third in the eight-horse field of 3-year-olds, was Calvados (Arg).
The Pizza Man, a 6-year-old by English Channel-I Can Fan Van, by Lear Fan, ran the 1-1/2-mile race on the turf rated good in 2:34.13.
“I think this horse is very good mentally,” said Geroux. “He’s a horse that can be anywhere during the race and he just knows where the wire is and that’s a big plus. I’m just trying to be a good passenger and stay out of his way and he does the rest.”
For The Pizza Man, Arlington his definitely a track that he likes. He’s now won nine times at the track in 12 races.
With the win in the Stars and Stripes, The Pizza Man now has 14 wins, one second, two thirds and $899,565 in earnings in 22 career starts.
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Also on Saturday, a big upset occurred at Delaware Park when 54-to-1 long shot Calamity Kate, who was ridden by jockey Edgar Prado, surprised the field and went gate-to-wire to win the Delaware Oaks (G3) over Peace and War.
“The horse has been training good and in her last start she got a bad break,” said winning trainer Kelly John Breen. “So the last race was probably a throw out and she has been training great for this race. We had a couple of horses nominated and I guess we picked the right one to come here with. I told Edgar (Prado) just to ride his race. That she is sharp. It was just a matter of being in right spot at that right time.”
Finishing third in the eight-horse field for 3-year-old fillies was Hip Hop N Jazz.
The biggest surprise was that race-favorite, Lovely Maria, winner of this year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1), finished fifth with regular jockey Kerwin Clark riding.
Lovely Maria, who is owned by Gov. Brereton Jones and trained by Larry Jones, who offered no excuses for his filly’s finish.
According to Jones, Lovely Maria’s next start could be the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in August.
(Information gathered from EquiBase.com, BloodHorse.com, DelawarePark.com, ArlingtonPark.com and OldFriendsEquine.com)
Rick, Very Klassy Job!
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