"...she deserves a chance to show how good she is," Rick Porter told Blood-Horse race reporter Claire Novak, who quoted him on the talent of four-year-old filly Havre de Grace in the magazine's September 10, 2011 (No.36) article, "Girl Talk".
Show she did. Havre de Grace, campaigning for Porter's Fox Hill Farms, demolished the field of seven male opponents by 1-1/4 lengths in the grade one Woodward Stakes September 3. Jockey Ramon Dominguez piloted the outstanding filly in the $750,000 race.
The Saint Liam--Easter Bunnette, by Carson City four-year-old bay filly seared over the Woodward's 1-1/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, gaining the victory by surging past Rule in the stretch and holding off Flat Out, who closed late.
Beating the Boys of Woodward
Only Rachel Alexandra previously had won the Woodward as a female contender. Rachel Alexandra scored in the event during her finest year, 2009, when she also beat a field of boys in the Preakess Stakes and the Haskell Invitational Stakes.
Havre de Grace stamped herself as a 2011 Horse of the Year candidate with the stunning Woodward win. Rachel Alexandra achieved the same distinction in 2009 when she scored over the season's best boys in the Woodward, and she went on to be named Horse of the Year over another female heavy-weight, Zenyatta, that year.
Havre de Grace, trained by top conditioner Larry Jones (Hard Spun, Eight Belles), is the second female Woodward winner in the race's 58 runnings.
Havre de Grace's Male Opponents
Rule, trained by perennial powerhouse conditioner Todd Pletcher for WinStar Farm, is a four-year-old Roman Ruler son. He was in command in early stretch in the Woodward, but Havre de Grace drew next to him and quickly dispatched her male opponent headed for the finish.
Flat Out, sired by Flatter, is owned by Preston Stables. His stretch drive wasn't enough, as he passed Rule, but couldn't find the steam to catch Havre de Grace.
Also finishing in the Woodward were the following: Mission Impazible, 4th; Giant Oak, 5th; Ice Box, 6th; Mambo Meister, 7th; and Convocation, 8th.
Havre de Grace Race Record
Adding first place purse winnings of $450,000 to her bankroll, Havre de Grace boosted her dollar-winning career total to $1,986,175 from 13 starts. Winning four of five starts this season gives Havre de Grace a head up in her division of foes female over Blind Luck, who nipped her in the Delaware Handicap (G2) on July 16.
Havre de Grace's career race record is 7-4-2.
The Woodward win gives her owner and trainer positive thoughts to run her in either the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic or boys' Classic scheduled respectively for November 4 and 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Before that is decided, however, the October 1 (Belmont Park) Beldame Invitational Stakes (G1), or the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on October 9 could be her next stop.
BarbaraAnne Helberg - Barbara Anne Helberg, Supporter of Better Lives for Animals and Clean, Spirited, Competitive Sports
