The Honorable Miss Handicap- Grade 2 ($200.000 Purse)
SAR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
July 24, 2019

At Saratoga, there is always excitement even in the middle of the week, and on Wednesday, we’ll have the 15th running of the Honorable Miss Handicap, which will see a field of seven females running six furlongs on the main track. Last year, the track was sloppy for the race, and it was won by a horse who’s only career wins came on off tracks, named Theatre Music. She has since retired, and amazingly has already given birth to four foals! For this race, weights will range between 117 and 122 pounds, so that will be something to keep in mind when wagering on the race. Overall, the field appears to be well balanced, so an entertaining race should be in store. Let’s meet the field!

#1- Moonlight Bliss (Fractious, ridden by M Franco)- After winning half of her ten starts last year, she is still looking for her first win of 2019. Formerly a regular runner of the grass, she was moved to the main track this year and looked good when she ran third in the Grade 1 Vinery Madison at KEE. Speed figures say she likes it better on the dirt, and she will be one of the low weights in this field. Too good to stay winless this year.

#2- Thalassa (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J Alvarado)- Carrying 118 pounds for the race, Thalassa is in search of her second win this year. Back in April, she won the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes at WO while coming from off the pace. Whether she runs that style again remains to be seen. Her last start saw her switch it up, as she was on the lead in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney, and hung tough until the end. That this race is a little shorter could make trying that again somewhat appealing.

#3- British Chai (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by C Landeros)- This Spanish Chai filly may be remembered for being part of the KYO last year and running in it while she was still a maiden. She eventually did break her maiden, and did so while sprinting, and that has proven to be where she was best. She is a two time Grade 3 winner, with the most recent such win being two starts ago at the Desert Stormer at SA. That win means she has to carry 120 for this race.

#4- Peters Orange (Estero Farms, ridden by K Carmouche)- A strong three year old season saw her win five out of eight races, and she has been lightly raced to this point as a four year old. She has not won yet this year, but that is only because she has had two tough luck photos with the headbob in her three starts. Her speed figures on dry tracks (Wednesday should be fine at the Spa) are consistent, so maybe this time something will give with her luck at the wire this year.

#5- Huzza (John Henry, ridden by J Lezcano)- Had three race winning streak early in her career that enabled her to run in the BC Juvenile Fillies. She ran in the middle of the field there, and week later was sold to John Henry for $300.000. So far, the trainer has not got much back for his investment, with her last three races being out of the money, including the Grade 1 Acorn at BEL. She goes back to six furlongs, a distance that was kind to her, and to the track she last won at, in last year’s Adirondack. The trainer hopes that gives him something to cheer about.

#6- Starlite Run (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- She went on a nice run of her own, winning six consecutive races late last year, and into this year. In doing so, she progressed up the ranks, winning an ungraded stake, then a Grade 3, then a Grade 2, then the Grade 1 Beholder. The flip side of that win means that she will be the highweight in this field, and it is significant that she carries five more pounds then half the field. Like Huzza, a return to running six furlongs should do her good.

#7- Morning Tea (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- This one has tried her luck at graded racing before, but up to this point she has been unable to have success in one. Her first graded stake saw the trainer swing for the fence in the Grade 1 BEL Oaks, a ten furlong turf race, and she finished in the middle of the field. Recently, she has gone back to sprinting on the main track, and pulled off a win in the $50.000 Fischer Memorial Handicap in her last start. Now, it’s time to try to graded again!

Prediction: 4-6-3-5

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES