BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Classic Mo Town became the second graded stakes winner Saturday at Woodbine for owner Bruno Schickedanz, trainer Martin Drexler and jockey Eswan Flores with an upset victory in the US$129,148 bet365 Eclipse (Grade 2). A $25,000 claim by Drexler and Schickedanz in February of 2024, Classic Mo Town earned his first black-type victory while holding off a late run from Webslinger to win by half-length.

In the first race on the Woodbine card, Drexler, Flores and Schickedanz won the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier with Florida-bred Old Chestnut.

Let go at 9-1 in the field of eight 3-year-olds and older going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the synthetic course, Classic Mo Town had two horses beat going into the clubhouse turn as 5-2 favorite Get Smokin had daylight on Possiblemente in second with Cool Kiss third. Get Smokin took a clear lead through a half-mile in :47.86 and six furlongs in 1:11.47 as Flores had Classic Mo Town gobbling up horses around the far turn and within striking distance as they turned for home. Classic Mo Town easily went by Get Smokin past the eighth pole and was too good for a late-running Webslinger, finishing in 1:42.97. Webslinger was two lengths ahead of Get Smokin in third with Dancin In Da’nile fourth. Stanley House, Possiblement, Cool Kiss and Dataman completed the order finish.

Classic Mo Town paid $21.10.

 

It was the fourth winner on the day for Flores, who said the ride on Classic Mo Town was effortless.

“He’s such a nice horse and so easy to get along with. I had him inside and that was my only worry, that I might get him stuck in there. But Marty [Drexler] had him so ready today it was just a press button.”

Classic Mo Town has been model of consistency since the claim, winning three with two seconds and three thirds in 10 starts from the Drexler barn. In addition to the Eclipse victory, he was second to Get Smokin in the Grade 3 bet365 Valedictory on Dec. 7.

“He was a good one right from the time we took him,” Drexler said. “He never misses a check and he’s always there.

“He’s always been a hard knocking type of horse and I knew he was in good order going into [the Eclipse]. I took a shot. He ended up with the best trip and doing really well and Eswan is riding really confident right now. So I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Classic Mo Town has now won six of 22 career starts with three seconds and eighth thirds. The US$76,418 first place check in the Eclipse increased his career earnings to $294,399. He was an $18,000 purchase by Saffie Joseph Jr. out of the Sue Vacek consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company October Yearling Sale.

Bred in Florida by John B. Penn and Sue’s Farm II LLC, Classic Mo Town is by Mo Town out of Potra Clasica (Arg), by Potrillon (Arg).

Portra Clasica has four winners from seven starters and 10 foals. She also produced graded stakes-placed Town Classic, by Speightstown. A half-sister to Argentinian stakes-winner Potrimagic (Arg) and Potri Class, Grade 3-placed in Argentina, Penn purchased Potra Clasica for $27,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Return to the May 31 issue of Wire to Wire