Sherine Comes Back to Big A to Make Comely Her First '08 Win | |
| By Francis LaBelle Jr. | April 12, 2008 |
Zayat Stable’s Sherine, making her return to Aqueduct’s main track, dug in under jockey Alan Garcia and came home a two-length winner Saturday afternoon in the 59th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Comely for three-year-old fillies at a one-turn mile. Paying a $2 win mutuel of $28.60, the Precise End filly helped account for a $50,833.74 Pick 6 Carryover for Sunday’s card. Lady Chace broke sharp and was quickly hooked by Sherine, who poked a head in front to get the first quarter in 22.96. With Elusive Lady and Zaftig tracking just behind, the order remained unchanged after a half of 46.61. As they turned for home, Sherine opened up her lead and that allowed Elusive Lady to come from off the rail. Ready for Fortune gladly accepted the inside path, while Zaftig began to flatten. Sherine got three-quarters sin 1:11.20 and was never seriously threatened from then on. She hit the wire in 1:37.25 over the fast track. The victory erased a poor showing by Sherine in the Dearly Precious here on the inner track on February 17, when she finished last as the favorite. “I was as surprised with her effort today as I was with her effort in the Dearly Precious,” said trainer Anthony Dutrow, contacted by telephone after the race. “I thought she was training great going into the Dearly Precious and I thought she looked good coming out of it. I just kind of forgot about that race and freshened her up. “She really ran a big race today. She ran fast all the way around there. I knew she was a talented filly and capable of running that way. I was just hoping she was good enough at the top of the stretch. This is a big win for me. With her speed and versatility there are a lot of options for her.” One option could be the turf, where Sherine showed some ability last year. “I think she’s real good on dirt and turf,” Garcia said. “It doesn’t matter what she’s on – she’s just a fast filly. Things didn’t go right last time and Tony told me she would be a better horse today. Tony has done a good job with her. I knew I had horse at the three-eighths pole, but she was still kind of playing around. She gave me what she needed to in the stretch.” Ready for Fortune necked Elusive Lady for the place and it was another neck back to favored Zaftig in fourth. Lady Chace was a distant fifth. Love Co was scratched. |









