Classic Point Gets Tested for Class in Honorable Miss

Classic Point might be taking a large step up in class on Monday in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap, but the 4-year-old is certainly in capable hands.

Trained by 84-year-old Hall of Famer H. Allen Jerkens, Classic Point will be ridden in the Honorable Miss by 49-year-old Alex Solis. Classic Point, 10-1 on the morning line, is unbeaten in two starts with Solis aboard.

A Joseph V. Shields, Jr. homebred, Classic Point won a starter allowance/optional claimer by 1 ¾ lengths on June 14 and added a 9 ¼-length triumph in an entry-level allowance/optional claimer on June 30. Both wins came at Belmont Park over the Honorable Miss six-furlong distance.

"[Alex Solis] has ridden her better than anyone so far," said Jerkens. "She doesn't want you to take a hold of her, and she doesn't like you to whip her. It's ticklish to ride her. [Solis] has been riding for 30 years, so I guess he has ridden one like her before. We're taking our shot and hoping for the best."

Nine months ago, Classic Point broke her maiden for a $16,000 claiming tag in a six-furlong race Belmont. She later captured a conditioned claimer going one mile in February at Gulfstream Park, but Jerkens said the chestnut daughter of Flatter has found her niche in sprints.

"We had to run her for $16,000 before she won," said Jerkens. "We're lucky we didn't lose her with the way she turned out afterward. Then everybody said, 'If you run her a distance, she'll run good.' She won, and everybody said, 'See?' And then the last two races she won were six furlongs."

Jerkens, who has posted numerous memorable upsets over the decades, said Classic Point has improved in recent months but doesn't know whether it will be enough for her to win the Honorable Miss.

"We're taking a chance," said Jerkens. "There aren't many allowance races for her, anyway. We'll see what happens. She'll have to run bigger, that's for sure. She's become bigger and stronger since she got older. She likes it when you give her little, sharp workouts. You try to keep her fit and sharp. Those are things that don't always work out, but we'll see tomorrow."