Classic Q took them wire to wire in the $500,000 Just a Game Stakes (G1T) June 6 at Saratoga Race Course, earning her first grade 1 victory.
The Mark Casse trainee broke strongly under jockey John Velazquez and got in an early pace battle with the post-time favorite Segesta. As the field moved into the first turn, Classic Q took over and set fractions of :23.62, :47.17, 1:10.09, and 1:21.27. She came under a ride at the top of the stretch and fought off bids from Mandanaba and Segesta to get the win. The 4-year-old daughter of Classic Empire hit the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front. She completed the mile on the firm turf in a final time of 1:32.84 and paid $14.44 to win. The French shipper Mandanaba finished second, while Chad Brown's Segesta had to settle for third.
"I knew when they went in :47 (for the half-mile) that it was going to take somebody special to beat her," Casse said. "I kept telling (my wife) Tina, 'Johnny's waiting. Johnny's waiting.' He (John Velazquez) said she was being so good and when they loaded the last horse, she started acting up. Then, when she breaks, you can't rush her or she'll run off. He gets along with her. He knows her well.
"She's always been talented, really talented. She's amazing. She had double ankle surgery before she ever made her first start, that's why she was so late getting started. She's just been unbelievable."
Owned by Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Classic Q was purchased for just $40,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and has now earned $1,349,865 with a 5-3-1 record in 15 starts. She earned her second graded stakes in a row, after taking the May 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, with Velazquez aboard for both wins.
"That trip was about what we expected," Velazquez said. "I was expecting that she'd break well, that she'd be on the lead. I tried to save her the best I could, so I'd have something left to ask for. It is nice when it works out that way. She had a good finish, but that's what we were expecting out of her."
Casse added his third grade 1 to the weekend, after winning the Acorn Stakes (G1) with Counting Stars and the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) with Nitrogen June 5.
"I've been coming here since I was 10," Casse said. "I wish my dad was here. I used to stand up there (in the clubhouse) because we didn't have a box. I would stand for races and races to watch. Saratoga has been my life since I was a little boy. It's been my dream, so to be able to accomplish what we've done this weekend is quite amazing."
Classic Q is the first grade 1 winner this year for sire Classic Empire.
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