5/15/2015  Post Time 2:50

RACE 6 PIM    The Hilltop Stakes

$100.000  3yoF    1  1/16m   Turf

“Get in front… improve position”  That’s pretty much how The Hilltop Stakes went for Barbaresca as the Chili King Stables trained 3yo filly jumped out of the gate and just kept on going to take the win by a length in a final time of 1:40.18, lowering the stakes record by nearly a second at 7/1 odds.  Post time favorite Trance The River was second with Princess Jasmin in third.

**Better late than never… and I have no clue how I missed this, but my apologies to all entrants for the delay in this recap.

The field got away from the gate in good order with Barbaresca breaking on top, Good News showing early speed Trance The River between that pair.  Princess Jasmin along the rail, and Hopscotch Queen next to that one.

By the stands the first time and into the clubhouse turn with six furlongs to run and Barbaresca showing the way by a length.  Good News continuing to chase, trance The River three wide through the turn, then a gap of three back to Hopscotch Queen and Princess Jasmin under a hold from the hedge.

Now making their way down the backside and past the seven-sixteenths pole, Barbaresca now in front by two.  Trance The River still tracking three wide, Good News a length off of that one, then a gap of two back to Hopschotch and Princess Jasmin still under a hold and skimming the brush.

Around the far turn and to the top of the lane, now just three sixteenth’s to run and Barbaresca now skipping away to lead by two and a half lengths.  Trance The River the only one with a chance at the leader as Good News was headed in the wrong direction and now five lengths from the leader.  Hopscotch Queen asked to pick it up and Princess Jasmin cutting the corner and still sticking to the rail.

Now inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, she looked to be running on fumes but Barbaresca went under the wire in front by a comfortable length, taking this one wire to wire.  Trance The River made up some late gap but was never a threat to the winner in second.  Princess Jasmin used her ground-saving effort to close well for third, then Hopscotch Queen and Good News tiring to close this one out.

Barbaresca is a 3yo black filly by Sazerac Rye – Obo, by Faithful Companion and she was bred by her owner, Chili King Stables in CA.  This was her second win from eight starts and her first stakes win – I’d expect more from this filly as she seem to have the speed to kill!  Congrats to Barbaresca and Chili King Stables.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm        Time: :23³  :46⁴  1:10   1:40     ^{**New Stakes Record**}
$1 Exacta: 3 – 4 Paid 13.10       $1 Trifecta: 3 – 4 – 1 Paid 197.20
Scratched: None

Categories: Ungraded