Evening Attire, winner of the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) this summer, will carry highweight of 123 pounds in Saturday's Queens County Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct. The grade I winner and earner of more than $2.3 million will face nine older foes in the 1 3/16ths-miles race that goes at approximately 3:44 p.m. EST.
His task won't be easy has he spots from six to nine pounds to his rivals. Second in the weights is Classic Endeavor, who is coming off a win in the nine-furlong Stuyvesant Handicap (gr. III) on Nov. 13.
Evening Attire, a son of
Black Tie Affair out of the Our Native mare Concolour, is coming off a dull eighth-place finish in the Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIT) run over a good turf course Nov. 20. The last time he raced on the main track, the 6-year-old gelding ran fourth behind Funny Cide, Newfoundland, and The Cliff's Edge in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont on Oct. 2. He won the 2002 Jockey Club Gold Cup over Lido Palace and Harlan's Holiday.
He was bred by Joseph Grant and Thomas J. Kelly and is owned by Joseph and Mary Grant and Kelly. He is trained by Pat Kelley. A winner of 11 of 38 starts, he has won seven stakes--four at Aqueduct--including the 2001 Queens County H. He was second in this race last year behind Thunder Blitz.
The 6-year-old Classic Endeavor was racing for a $35,000 claiming tag in June. Haltered by Scott Lake, he won twice before being claimed by trainer Richard Dutrow for $50,000 on behalf of Sullivan Lane Stable and Vincent Scuderi.
Colita, a son of
Grindstone--All Sweets, by
Dixieland Band, was second to Classic Endeavor in the Stuyvesant and is back for more while toting 115 pounds. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old owned by Team Valor Stables has yet to score in stakes company.
Paul Pompa Jr.'s Zakocity, a son of
Precocity and winner of the Discovery Handicap (gr. III) on Oct. 27, should make his presence felt under Javier Castellano.
Queens County Handicap (gr. III), Aqueduct, $100,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 3/16 miles, Saturday, Dec. 4, approx. post 3:44 p.m. ESTPP - Horse - Jockey - Wgt.
1 - Classic Endeavor - Aaron Gryder - 117
2 - Colita - Rafael Bejarano - 115
3 - Admiralty Arch - Stewart Elliott - 115
4 - Country Be Gold - Alan Garcia - 113
5 - Evening Attire - Jose Espinoza - 123
6 - Roaring Fever - Pablo Fragoso - 115
7 - Hydrogen - Michael Luzzi - 114
8 - Kissin Saint - Shaun Bridgmohan - 114
9 - Zakocity - Javier Castellano - 115
10 - Private Lap - Noberto Arroyo Jr. - 114
