Comely Stakes

Last updated
Comely Stakes
ClassGrade III
Location Aqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York
Inaugurated1945
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Website NYRA – Aqueduct Racetrack
Race information
Distance1 1/8 mile (9 furlongs)
TrackDirt, left-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
WeightAssigned
Purse$200,000

The Comely Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Open to three year old fillies, it is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile. The Grade III event offers a purse of $200,000. [1]

Contents

The race was named in honor of the filly Comely, who, in a remarkable performance as a two-year-old, defeated older male horses in winning the first running of the Fall Highweight Handicap in 1914. Going into 2019, she remains the only two-year-old to win the Fall Highweight Handicap and one of only a few two-year-olds to defeat older horses in a major stakes race. [2]

Inaugurated in 1945 at Jamaica Race Course, it was raced there through 1951 and again in 1959. For 1952 and 1953 it was hosted by the Empire City Race Track in Yonkers and Belmont Park in 1976, 1981, 1984, and again in 1985. There was no race run from 1954 to 1958. When revived in 1959 the race was open to two-year-olds of either sex and won by the 1960 Preakness Stakes winner, Bally Ache. [3] On April 30, 1975 the superstar filly and future Hall of Fame inductee Ruffian won the Comely by eight lengths in stakes record time. [4]

On May 11, 1985, Abigail Fuller became the first female jockey to win the Comely Stakes. She was aboard Mom's Command, a future Hall of Fame filly bred and raced by her father, Peter Fuller. [5]

The Comely was run in two divisions in 1953, 1963, and 1970.

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Purse$
Gr.
2024Pretty Ana3 Jose Lezcano Chad Brown Three Chimneys Farm LLC 1+18 M1:49.99$200,000G3
2023 Raging Sea 3 Manuel Franco Chad Brown Alpha Delta Stables1+18 M1:50.86$200,000G3
2022Sixtythreecaliber3Kendrick Carmouche Thomas M. Amoss My Racehorse Stable & Spendthrift Farm 1+18 M1:53.89$175,000G3
2021Bees and Honey3 Jose Lezcano J. Reeve McGaughey Gainesway Farm & Andrew Rosen 1+18 M1.54.41$200,000G3
2020Mrs.Danvers3 Jose Lezcano Claude R. McGaughey III Allen Stables Inc.1+18 M1.50.09$100,000G3
2019Bellera3 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Mathis Stables1+18 M1:52.91$110,000G3
2018Blamed3 Julien Leparoux William I. Mott Cleber J. Massey1+18 M1:51.98$120,000G3
2017Actress3 José Ortiz Jason Servis Gary & Mary West1+18 M1:52.66$150,000G3
2016Verve's Tale3 Paco Lopez Barclay Tagg Charles E. Fipke 1+18 M1:51.89$150,000G3
2015 Forever Unbridled 3 John R. Velazquez Dallas Stewart Charles E. Fipke 1+18 M1:50.75$180,000G3
2014Snowbell3 Luis Saez Thomas Albertrani Godolphin Racing 1+18 M1:52.59$240,000G3
2013Wedding Toast3 Javier Castellano Kiaran McLaughlin Godolphin Racing 1+18 M1:49.92$240,000G3
2012Broadway's Alibi3 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher E. Paul Robsham Stables 1 M1:36.52$150,000G3
2011Hot Summer3 Luis Saez David J. FawkesHarold L. Queen1 M1:35.58$90,000G3
2010Touching Beauty3 Mike Luzzi James A. Jerkens Gainesway Farm & Joseph M. Cornacchia1 M1:37.90$60,000G3
2009Dream Play3 Eddie Castro Kiaran McLaughlin Stewart Armstrong1 M1:39.51$90,000G2
2008Sherine3 Alan Garcia Anthony W. Dutrow Zayat Stables 1 M1:37.25$90,000G2
2007Boca Grande3 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable 1 M1:36.54$90,000G2
2006 Miraculous Miss 3 Kent Desormeaux Steve Klesaris Puglisi Stables & Steve Klesaris1 M1:36.67$90,000G2
2005Acey Deucey3 Diane Nelson John D. MorrisonJeffrey Tucker1 M1:35.95$90,000G2
2004Society Selection3 Jorge Chavez H. Allen Jerkens Irving & Majorie Cowan1 M1:35.89$67,200G3
2003Cyber Secret3 Shaun Bridgmohan Richard E. Dutrow Jr. Goldfarb et al.1 M1:35.97$64,740G3
2002Bella Bellucci3 Gary Stevens Neil D. Drysdale Michael Tabor 1 M1:33.50$64,920G3
2001 Two Item Limit 3 Richard Migliore Stephen L. DiMauro Joseph Graffeo1 M1:36.17$66,060G3
2000March Magic3 Richard Migliore Richard Violette Jr. Ralph M. Evans1 M1:36.79$65,460G3
1999Madison's Charm3 Jean-Luc Samyn Thomas A. HauswaldDonald A. Adam1 M1:35.54$65,520G3
1998Fantasy Angel3 Jorge Chavez Martin D. Wolfson Martin L. Cherry1 M1:37.44$69,300G3
1997Dixie Flag3 Jean-Luc Samyn H. Allen Jerkens Bohemia Stable 1 M1:36.96$66,120G3
1996Little Miss Fast3 Jorge Chavez Juan SereyJames A. Riccio1 M1:36.58$65,940G3
1995Nappelon3 Jorge Chavez Rene ArayaR Kay Stable1 M1:36.26$64,440G2
1994Dixie Luck3Filiberto Leon H. Allen Jerkens Bohemia Stable 1 M1:37.02$66,240G2
1993Private Light3 Robbie Davis Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1+116 M1:44.19$68,280G2
1992 Saratoga Dew 3 Herb McCauley Gary Sciacca Charles F. Engel1 M1:37.22$69,480G2
1991 Meadow Star 3 Chris Antley LeRoy Jolley Carl Icahn 1 M1:38.00$67,560G2
1990Fappaburst3 Jacinto Vásquez Philip G. Johnson Susan Kaskel7 F1:21.60$49,770G2
1989Surging3 Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas H. Joseph Allen 7 F1:23.00$52,290G2
1988Avie's Gal3 Jorge Velásquez John J. Lenzini Jr. John Cioci7 F1:22.40$95,550G2
1987Devil's Bride3 Rafael Meza John Gosden Oak Cliff Stable7 F1:23.60$65,790G3
1986Misty Drone3 Jacinto Vásquez Alton H. Quanbeck Maud McDougald 7 F1:24.00$59,940G3
1985 Mom's Command 3 Abigail Fuller Edward T. Allard Peter D. Fuller 7 F1:22.20$55,170G3
1984Wild Applause3 Pat Day MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stable 7 F1:23.20$52,110G3
1983Able Money3 Antonio Graell Anthony RussoFaith Donnelly7 F1:23.80$35,580G3
1982Nancy Huang3 Jorge Velásquez Howard M. Tesher H. Joseph Allen 7 F1:24.40$34,860G3
1981Expressive Dance3 Don MacBeth LeRoy Jolley Diana M. Firestone 7 F1:23.40$35,220G3
1980Cybele3 Cash Asmussen LeRoy Jolley Diana M. Firestone 7 F1:22.60$27,225G3
1979Countess North3 Ángel Cordero Jr. Stephen A. DiMauro Michael Rutherford7 F1:23.40$25,725G3
1978Mashteen3 Ruben Hernandez Laz Barrera Leslie Combs II 7 F1:23.00$25,665G3
1977Bring Out The Band3 Don Brumfield James W. Murphy Hickory Tree Stable 7 F1:23.60$22,650G3
1976Tell Me All3 John Ruane H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 7 F1:23.20$22,080G3
1975 Ruffian 3 Jacinto Vásquez Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. Locust Hill Farm 7 F1:21.20$16,755G3
1974Clear Copy3Daryl MontoyaJerome HirschLeon J. Hekimian7 F1:24.40$17,670G3
1973Java Moon3 Ángel Cordero Jr. Lou Rondinello Darby Dan Farm 7 F1:22.80$17,610G3
1972Stacey d'Ette3 John Ruane Dave Erb Dave Erb 7 F1:21.60$16,290
1971 Forward Gal 3 Michael Hole Warren A. Croll Jr. Aisco Stable 7 F1:23.40$20,460
1970-1Predictable3 Robert Ussery Edward A. Neloy Wheatley Stable 7 F1:24.00$14,852
1970-2Royal Signal3 Braulio Baeza Stephen A. DiMauro Mrs. Lawrence W. Knapp Jr.7 F1:24.00$15,015
1969 Ta Wee 3 Eddie Belmonte John A. Nerud Tartan Stable 7 F1:22.60$18,492
1968Best In Show3 Heliodoro Gustines John H. SkirvinClearview Stable7 F1:22.40$19,240
1967Gala Honors3 Braulio Baeza Clyde Troutt Ada L. Rice 7 F1:25.00$18,947
1966Swift Lady3 John L. Rotz Burley Parke Harbor View Farm 7 F1:23.60$18,785
1965 What a Treat 3 John L. Rotz Sylvester E. Veitch George D. Widener Jr. 7 F1:24.80$17,680
1964Face The Facts3 Manuel Ycaza James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry 7 F1:23.80$18,525
1963-1Pams Ego3 Milo Valenzuela J. P. "Sammy" Smith Clear Springs Stable 7 F1:23.80$11,456
1963-2 Lamb Chop 3 Braulio Baeza James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry 7 F1:24.40$11,326
1962Upswept3 Braulio Baeza Robert L. Dotter James Cox Brady Jr. 7 F1:24.60$15,438
1961Seven Thirty3 Hedley Woodhouse Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 7 F1:24.20$15,112
1960Irish Jay3 Eddie Arcaro James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 7 F1:23.00$18,680
1959 Bally Ache 2 David Erb Jimmy Pitt Leonard D. Fruchtman5 F0:59.20$11,362
1954 –1958Race not held
1953-1 La Corredora 4 Ira Hanford Carl Hanford Marian W. O'Connor1+18 M1:45.20$18,987
1953-2Home Made3 Eric Guerin Bill Winfrey Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. 1+18 M1:45.20$19,237
1952Devilkin3 William Boland Max Hirsch John W. Hanes1+18 M1:44.60$20,250
1951 Bed O' Roses 4 Eric Guerin Bill Winfrey Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. 1+18 M1:44.60$20,250
1950Siama3 Ovie Scurlock Moody Jolley Cain Hoy Stable 1+18 M1:45.00$20,700
1949Lithe3 Herb Lindberg Frank S. Barnett Hal Price Headley 1+18 M1:45.20$20,200
1948 Conniver 4 Eric Guerin William Post Harry La Montagne 1+18 M1:45.00$19,225
1947Elpis3Larry HansmanWillie Booth William G. Helis Sr. 1+18 M1:44.20$16,700
1946Bonnie Beryl3 Hedley Woodhouse James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 1+18 M1:44.20$15,615
1945Moon Maiden7 Wayne D. Wright Hirsch Jacobs Isidor Bieber1+18 M1:45.40$15,615

References

  1. "Comely Stakes". New York Racing Association (NYRA). 2018-11-23. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  2. "History Challenge: Comely enjoyed remarkable season in 1914". Daily Racing Form (DRF). 2014-11-21. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  3. "Bally Ache Dies At Breeding Farm". New York Times. 1960-10-30. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  4. "On the 30th Anniversary of Ruffian's Last Race". Equus Magazine. 2005-07-05. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  5. "Mom's Command Takes Comely by 4½". New York Times. 1942-06-27. Retrieved 2018-12-22.