Thanksgiving weekend features stakes action at racetracks across the country, including Aqueduct in New York. The $150,000 Top Flight Handicap (G2) featured a field of 8 older fillies and mares contest the 1 mile distance on the main track before just 3,196 fans in attendance. Allowance winner Golden Velvet was the 2-1 favorite over Beautiful Pleasure Stakes winner Pool Land at 5-2 and Spinster 6th place finisher Altesse at 6-1.
Lady Marlboro took the lead early and set fractions of 23.38, 46.98, and 1:11.96 while dueling with Pool Land the whole way. After Pool Land tired at the top of the stretch, Lady Marlboro stubbornly held the lead, but was joined at the 1/8 pole by Mini Sermon who had stalked the pacesetters in third down the backstretch. The pair battled for the final 1/16, but, Mini Sermon got her nose down at the line to get the win in 1:37.29 over the good main track. It was a long 2 1/4 lengths back to favorite Golden Velvet in third.
Results chart
