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Classy Edition Heads Field For Joseph A. Gimma Friday At Belmont

Following an impressive maiden score, Robert and Lawana Low's Classy Edition will make her stakes debut against five other New York-bred juvenile fillies in Friday's $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma going seven furlongs over the main track at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The Joseph A. Gimma honors the late investment banker, political official, and former chairman of the New York State Racing Commission from 1965-76. Born in Baro, Italy, Gimma also served as the governor of the American Stock Exchange from 1952-58.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Classy Edition backed up her heavy 3-5 favoritism in her September 5 debut when breaking her maiden by 6 ¾ lengths over a good and sealed track at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., garnering a 63 Beyer Speed Figure.

The bay daughter of freshman stallion and 2016 Champion Juvenile Colt Classic Empire rated in fourth along the rail down the backstretch and made an aggressive four-wide move nearing the quarter-pole, cruising away to a hand-ride victory under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

“It's back a little quick, but she did it very easily. Irad wrapped up on her in the last part of the race,” Pletcher said. “She had always trained well. I expected her to run well on debut, and she did.”

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Classy Edition is out of the Bernardini mare Newbie, making her a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Newly Minted.

Ortiz, Jr. will return aboard Classy Edition from post 4.

Mr. Amore Stable homebred November Rein will attempt a second stakes score following a triumph in the Seeking the Ante on August 27 at Saratoga.

Despite stumbling at the start, the Kelly Breen-trained daughter of Street Boss recovered quickly and commanded the field through every point of call, winning by 1 ¾ lengths.

November Rein arrived at the Seeking the Ante off an even more decisive victory, breaking her maiden going 5 ½ furlongs at the Spa by 5 ½ lengths to garner a field-best 76 Beyer.

Jose Ortiz is unbeaten in two starts aboard November Rein and will have the call from post 6.

D.J. Stable's Adversity, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, graduated by 2 1/4-lengths at second asking on September 6 over a sloppy and sealed main track at the Spa.

“Her first start we ran her on the grass, and she didn't run very well, but she had always worked really well on the dirt,” said Casse assistant Shane Tripp. “It rained really hard right when the horses were in the paddock, so it was in the slop. She ran great that day and we're looking forward to running her again.”

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, the daughter of the late first crop sire and 2016 Travers winner Arrogate is out of the Grade 1-winning Roman Ruler mare Artemis Agrotera.

Jockey Luis Saez will ride from post 3.

Stonestreet Stables' Velvet Sister, a half-million-dollar purchase from the Fasig-Tipton March Sale, will attempt to turn the tables on November Rein following a runner-up effort in the Seeking the Ante.

The daughter of Bernardini, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, was a 9 ¾-length winner against open company in June at Belmont before a distant fourth in the Grade 3 Schuylerville five weeks later at Saratoga.

Bred by Godolphin and Michelle Nevin, Velvet Sister is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner My Boy Tate.

Breaking from post 2, Velvet Sister will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

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Joseph Bucci's Shesawildjoker bested November Rein on debut and returns to New York-bred company for trainer David Donk.

The daughter of freshman stallion Practical Joke took a considerable jump up in class following her first-out maiden score when eighth in the Grade 3 Schuylerville. She was bred by Three Diamonds Farm.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will ride from post 5.

Rounding out the field is Our Tiny Dancer – a wire-to-wire winner for a $25,000 tag at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., for trainer Amira Chichakly. Larry Botting bred the chestnut daughter of Union Jackson.

Jockey Erick Lopez will ride from post 1.

The Joseph A. Gimma is slated as Race 8 on Friday's nine-race card which also includes the $125,000 Ashley T. Cole in Race 3. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Yibir Gets 97 Beyer Speed Figure For Jockey Club Derby Win

Godolphin's Yibir displayed a devastating turn of foot with a last-to-first run to capture Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational, garnering a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in his North American debut in the final leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The Charlie Appleby-trained son of Dubawi took to the rear of the seven-horse field in the 12-furlong Widener turf test for sophomores, before fanning several paths wide around the far turn and catapulted himself to the front in upper stretch, drawing away to a 2 ½-length score under jockey Jamie Spencer.

Traveling assistant Chris Connett said Yibir will remain at Belmont Park through the next two days before shipping back to Appleby's training yard at Newmarket in England on Wednesday.

“He pulled up well. We were very happy with him,” Connett said Sunday morning. “He takes his races pretty well. He puts a lot into his runs, so he usually comes out nicely.”

Yibir entered the Jockey Club Derby off a triumph in the Group 2 Voltigeur on August 18 going 12 furlongs at York Racecourse, where he defeated next-out Group 1-placed The Mediterranean by 1 ¼ lengths over good ground. He also captured the 1 5/8-mile Group 3 Bahrain Trophy on July 8 at Newmarket in his first grouped stakes score.

“The form was very solid from his previous race,” Connett said. “As long as he handled the travel over here, we were very confident he would run a big race.

“He's a true mile and a half horse and can potentially go further in trip as well,” Connett continued. “As was seen yesterday, he has a nice turn of foot also. He'll go back out tomorrow morning for a little trot around and hopefully we'll see him in remain good spirits.”

Yibir, who is out of the German-bred Monsun mare Rumh, is a full-brother to multiple Group 1-winning filly Wild Illusion, who finished second to Sistercharlie in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 2018.

“I was fortunate enough to travel for some of her races as well,” Connett said. “She was a lovely filly. They both had their own characters.”

In capturing the Jockey Club Derby, Yibir earned a “Win And You're In” berth to the $4 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. Connett said the horse will be evaluated upon returning to his overseas base before any definite plans are made.

“They'll have discussions about that,” Connett said. “We'll get him back to the U.K. He'll fly home Wednesday and the team will make plans from there.”

Connett also saddled Godolphin filly Creative Flair to a fourth-place finish in the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational on Saturday for the same connections.

Yibir's victory provided another meaningful stakes triumph on the NYRA circuit for Appleby and Godolphin, who ran one-two in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game on June 5 at Belmont Park and Grade 1 Diana on July 17 at Saratoga with Althiqa and Summer Romance. The good run of form for Appleby in North America was also on display when Walton Street captured Saturday's Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine Racetrack.

“It was a huge day for the team,” Connett said. “Charlie's horses have been in good form. We've been very fortunate to have such good horses that can handle the ship out here and win.”

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Yibir Punches Ticket To Breeders’ Cup Turf With Win In Jockey Club Derby At Belmont

In last place with a quarter of a mile to go, winning looked out of reach for Yibir, but the English bred went three-wide into the final turn of the 1 1/2-mile Jockey Club Derby Invitational and found running room on the far outside of the bunched field in the Belmont stretch to take the race and earn a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Turf.

After breaking slow, jockey Jamie Spencer settled Yibir into last of eight early, with Tango Tango Tango and Slicked Back running one-two into the first turn of the 12-furlong Jockey Club Derby. Bolshoi Ballet, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in July, was third, Ryan Moore putting his colt in an ideal stalking position. With early fractions of :25.37 for the first quarter, :49.45 for the half-mile, and 1:14.46 for the six furlongs, Tango Tango Tango maintained his lead through the first mile, but Slicked Back took over after 1 1/4 miles.

Around the final turn, Spencer took Yibir wide, seeking a running lane, and then went wider still in the stretch as the field bunched up in the closing furlongs. Six wide, down the middle of the turf course, Yibir finally found a running lane and took the lead, winning the Jockey Club Derby by 2 1/2 lengths. Soldier Rising rallied from midpack to finish second with Slicked Back holding on for third.

The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:26.23. Find this race's chart here.

Yibir paid $7.30, $3.50, and $3.40. Soldier Rising paid $3.00 and $2.80. Slicked Back paid $6.40.

The Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes is a Win and You're In Event for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Winners received a fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled for Nov. 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Bred in England by owner Godolphin, Yibir is a 3-year-old gelding by Dubawi out of the Monsun mare Rumh. He is trained by Charles Appleby. Yibir has three wins in seven starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of five wins in 11 starts and $815,580 in career earnings.

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Walton Street Draws Away To Dominant Victory In Canadian International At Woodbine

Walton Street made his first start in North America a winning one under famed jockey Lanfranco Dettori, winning the Grade 1 Canadian International by 5 3/4 lengths at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The 7-year-old gelding went into the gate as the favorite, bided his time for ten furlongs, and pulled away in the stretch to earn his first G1 victory in dominant fashion.

Breaking from the second post, Dettori settled Walton Street behind longshot Primo Touch, who got out to a multi-length lead within the first half-mile. Logging fractions of :25, :49.49, and 1:14.37, Primo Touch slowed the pace down, leaving the door open for the field's closers. With a quarter of a mile to go, Walton Street easily took over the lead, entering the stretch on the leading and pulling away to a five-length advantage in the race's final furlong.

At the wire, it was all Dettori and Walton Street, with Desert Encounter second and Primo Touch third.

The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:29.07. Find this race's chart here.

Walton Street paid $3.70, $2.40, and $2.20. Desert Encounter paid $5.40 and $4.30. Primo Touch $6.80.

Bred in England by Darley, Walton Street is a 7-year-old gelding by Cape Cross out of the Encosta de Lago mare Brom Felinity. He is owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby. With his win in the G1 Canadian International, Walton Street has three wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of seven wins in 19 starts and career earnings of $962,153.

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