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Sheepshead Bay Handicap winner Honey Ryder.
Jaipur Stakes from Sunday |
Memorial Day weekend at Belmont Park in New York includes one graded stakes per day over the three days. Kicking off the graded stakes action this year is the $150,000 Sheepshead Bay Handicap (G2) for older fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf course. A field of seven went to the gate on a warm sunny Saturday afternoon, before an on-track crowd of 7,138. Todd Pletcher sent out the two shortest prices on the board. Last year's winner, 6-5 Honey Ryder, was making her first start since finishing 11th in the Dubai Sheema Classic, while 7-5 second choice Safari Queen came into this race off a 2-race winning streak, including the Orchid at Gulfstream and the Bewitch at Keeneland. 7-1 third choice La Dolce Vita won the Hollywood Wildcat at Calder in her last start, with the rest of the field in double digits.
96-1 outside Moon Dolly set the early pace of 23.70, 48.67, 1:13.59, and 1:38.40 over the firm course while being challenged by 12-1 Cliffrose the whole way. Safari Queen stalked the pace in third out wide, while Honey Ryder sat near the back of the field for the first mile, half a length behind La Dolce Vita. On the far turn, the pacesetters both tired badly and dropped from contention. Safari Queen inherited the lead and opened up a 2-length advantage with a furlong to go. However, stablemate Honey Ryder, who took the far turn very wide, responded well when asked by Garrett Gomez, and drove right on by at the 1/16 pole to win by 1 length in a time of 2:13.00. It was 3/4 length back to 16-1 Hostess in third, and 1 1/4 more to La Dolce Vita in fourth.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 Honey Ryder Gomez 4.30 2.40 2.20 7 Safari Queen Velazquez 2.40 2.10 4 Hostess Hill 4.40 Winning Time: 2:13.00 $2 Exacta 5-7 7.30 $2 Trifecta 5-7-4 33.40 |
Honey Ryder in the winner's circle with two of her owners and trainer Todd Pletcher, standing behind one of the Greathouse brothers. Pletcher said, "I've always thought the shipping back from Dubai thing has always been overrated. The horses that we've brought
back have always come back in good form. This filly came back and could
have run a month ago. This is the spot we circled to point for. Fractions
weren't real fast, but she rated kindly. It was a good effort."
Honey Ryder heads back to the barn after the race.
Second place finisher Safari Queen acting up in the paddock before the race. She is also trained by Todd Pletcher who said, "I was hoping for a dead-heat. Safari Queen ran a game race and I'm very proud of her."
Third place finisher Hostess returns after the race. The H. James Bond trainee was second in the ungraded Destiny Dance Stakes in her last start. With this result the Chester House filly improves her career record to 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 4 third in 11 starts with earnings of $122,734.
Jaipur Stakes - results and photos from Sunday, won by Ecclesiastic
Metropolitan Handicap - results and photos from Monday, won by Corinthian
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