“VERVE’S TALE” WINS G3 $250,000 COMELY

After taking eight starts to secure her maiden win, Verve’s Tale didn’t waste any time claiming her first stakes victory.

After chasing 3-5 favorite Lewis Bay through the stretch, longshot Verve’s Tale surged late to catch Lewis Bay in the final strides to score by about a neck in the $250,000 Comely Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 26 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

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A hombered for Charles Fipke, Verve’s Tale entered Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-old fillies off a 2 3/4-length score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race Oct. 16 at Keeneland. While that victory came in the eighth career start for the 3-year-old daughter of Tale of Ekati, Verve’s Tale raced consistently, finishing second or third in her previous seven races.

In fact, in her career debut Verve’s Tale finished third to Lewis Bay.

With Paco Lopez in the irons, Verve’s Tale settled in fourth early Saturday as Mo d’Amour led through a quarter-mile in :23.93 and a half-mile in :48.47 with Lewis Bay staying close. A two-time grade II winner at Aqueduct who finished third in this year’s Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Lewis Bay took over in the far turn and opened a clear lead into the stretch with only Verve’s Tale sustaining the chase.

“I got carried wide on both turns,” Lopez said. “In the first turn, everybody came over and I waited, waited. Then I started picking up horses outside at the three-eighths pole. I didn’t have much pace to run at. In the stretch, she gave me a lot. She’s a very nice filly and she tried really hard today.”

Carrying eight fewer pounds than Lewis Bay, Verve’s Tale used her late surge to complete the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.89 on a fast track.

“I wasn’t quite sure she was where she should be for these type of horses, but she was doing so well, I couldn’t hold her down, so I put her in there,” said winning trainer Barclay Tagg. “She loves to run. She’s nice and sound. She’s gone through all kinds of stuff, but she’s been doing quite well. I wasn’t afraid to bring her over.”

Verve’s Tale returned $43.60, $10.40, and $4.80 across the board while Lewis Bay paid $2.50 to place and $2.10 to show. Grade I-placed Going for Broke picked up third and returned $2.80 to show. Trainer Chad Brown trains the runner-up and third-place finisher.

Bred in Kentucky out of the Unbridled mare Verve, Verve’s Tale is a full sister to classic-placed Tale of Verve.