Jeffrey Tucker’s ACEY DEUCEY (Abaginone) finished with a rush to take
Saturday’s $150,000
Comely S. (G2) by a half-length. Ridden to victory by Diane
Nelson, the bay filly broke nearly last in a field of eight and ran sixth
through fractions of :23 for the opening quarter and :46 for the half-mile. Quite a Ruckus (Richter Scale) and Last Toots (Concern),
who had battled for the lead throughout, began to falter entering the stretch as Acey Deucey, Seeking the Ante (Seeking the Gold) and Pleasant Chimes (Pleasant
Tap) each made their stretch run. Seeking the Ante held the lead briefly inside
the final sixteenth, but could not hold off the closing winner, who stopped the
clock for a mile in 1:35 4/5 over a fast track. Pleasant Chimes was another 1 1/4-lengths
back in third.
The John Morrison-trained Acey Deucey returned $9, $4.20 and $3 at 7-2, keying exotics of
$98.50 (exacta) and $351.50 (trifecta). Seeking the Ante was worth $11.80 and
$5.70 at 15-1 and Pleasant Chimes paid $2.70 as the 2-1 favorite. Next came Last
Toots, Quite a Ruckus, Secrets Galore (Honour and Glory), Bright Mahogany
(Bright Launch) and Toll Taker (Bernstein). Merrill Gold (Gold Fever) was
withdrawn.
Bred in the Empire State by Glen Grey Farm, Acey Deucey improved her mark to
7-4-2-1 with earnings of $223,580. The sophomore miss adds the Comely to a
resume that also includes a win in the Dearly Precious S. and a runner-up finish
in the Cicada S. (G3). She is out of the unraced Misty Mountains (Al Nasr [Fr]).