BY BROCK SHERIDAN

With her best race coming in a maiden turf sprint at Churchill Downs in November, Florida-bred Classy Beach tries to break into the winning ranks for the first time while sprinting on the grass at Fair Grounds Thursday. The 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach is one of 11 fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, who will vie for the winner’s share of a $54,000 purse in a maiden special weight going a five furlongs.

Trainer Eddie Kenneally started Classy Beach at Keeneland in October when she led a seven-furlong maiden special weight on the dirt until the top of the stretch. She was then challenged and put in tight quarters into the final furlong before reluctantly surrendering to finish six. In her next start going five furlongs in her turf debut at Churchill Downs on November 13, she raced mid-pack early among a dozen special weight fillies then advanced between horses in the stretch and to finish fourth. She earned her best Beyer Speed Figure, a 72, and was less than a length off winner Spring Dancer and a neck behind runner-up Aurora Sky, who she faces again Thursday. 

Last out she led during the early stages of a mile-and-a-sixteenth maiden special weight at Fair Grounds on December 20, but could not maintain her speed and finished eighth behind winner Lady Iva, who took a Fair Grounds turf allowance in her next race.

Classy Beach is owned by James Flanagan and Gerald Flanagan and was bred in Florida by Terry Dyer and Audrea Dyer. She is by Omaha Beach out of the multiple stakes-placed mare Ultimate Class, by During and is a half-sister to Bad Beat Brian, a multiple graded stakes-placed performer while sprinting on the turf.

Ben Curtis will ride Classy Beach from post eight.

Return to the February 4 issue of Wire to Wire