By My Standards Strolls in New Orleans Classic

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Allied Racing Stable’s By My Standards continued his local success with a strolling romp in Saturday’s $400,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Breaking alertly from post 8 under Gabriel Saez as the 2/1 second choice, By My Standards initially looked able to handle the lead, but he soon allowed the keen Silver Dust to pull his way ahead and set the pace. While fighting jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr., Silver Dust posted opening fractions of :25.43, :50.09, and 1:14.36 as By My Standards raced just behind and outside of him.

Ranging up to take the lead at the 3/16 pole, By My Standards rolled past the fading Silver Dust and kicked clear. The Bret Calhoun trainee was kept to strong urging through to the wire, crossing 3 lengths much the best in a final time of 1:50.27 for the 1 1/8-mile event over the fast main track.

“I didn’t think we would be on the front end early in the race,” Saez said. “He brought it going into the first turn. I just sat and let him drive a little bit. We kept a good pace. I knew we had enough at about the 5/16. What can I say, I am really thankful. I am as happy as I can be.”

Captivating Moon rallied from near the rear to take second by a 1/2-length over Chess Chief, while Tenfold necked out the weakened Silver Dust for fourth. Tenfold bumped hard with Fearless, the 9/5 favorite under Florent Geroux, at the 1/16 pole after Chess Chief came in and played bumper cars.

Shortly after the finish, Geroux lodged an objection against Chess Chief for the interference. The stewards upheld the objection and reshuffled the official order of finish, putting Tenfold in third, Silver Dust fourth, Fearless fifth, and bumping Chess Chief back to sixth.

Completing the order of finish came Gun It, Lone Sailor, and Sonneteer, the latter two bumping hard out of the gate and never recovering.

By My Standards’ win followed a local allowance score on February 9 and increased his career earnings to $921,910. The 4-year-old son of Goldencents now sports a record of 8-4-2-1, including 6-4-1-1 over the local main track.

“This horse has really developed over time,” Calhoun said. “He’s going to be one of the top older horses in the country this year. He’s trained like it. This was a solid group of horses and he proved today what we have been thinking.”

Factor This returned $21 to win, $10.20 to place, and $6 to show. Dontblamerocket brought back $10.80 to place and $6.20 to show, while Rockemperor paid $5.20 to show.