NEWS: RACING

Old Harbor presses, prevails in Hettinger

Sunday, September 20th, 2015
NYRA/Adam Coglianese

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

by Sarah Mace

Joseph Birnbaum’s homebred filly Old Harbor, by New York sire Raffie’s Majesty, collected her second career stakes victory at Belmont Park on Sunday in the $125,000 John Hettinger for state-bred fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles over the inner turf course.

The Monmouth Park-based 4-year-old, trained for Birnbaum by Russell Cash, pressed a moderate pace set by Freudie Anne (25.02, 49.71), first on the inside from post one, then tipping into the two path in the first turn.

Pressing the leader along the backstretch, she drew even with Freudie Anne midway through the far turn, then kicked clear in upper stretch on her way to a 3 1/2-length victory as 3-1 fourth choice in the relatively evenly-matched field of seven New York-bred fillies and mares.

The Tea Cups, the 2-1 favorite to whom Old Harbor finished second in the Yaddo at Saratoga on August 28, finished second from off the pace, followed across the line by Selenite at 3-1. Unbelievable Dream, Freudie Anne, Chrysolite and Saythreehailmary’s completed the order of finish. Old Harbor’s final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:47.95. [VIDEO]

Winning jockey Elvis Trujillo said, “It was a perfect race. The speed went [to the front], I sat down behind and I could feel that the pace was really slow. Turning for home, I asked and the horse kicked. I could see the TV and saw nobody was coming and my horse wasn’t stopping. [S]he just kept going.”

Miguel Santiago, assistant to trainer Russell Cash, said, “This filly always gives her all. She tries hard and is an absolutely stunning horse. Every time she comes up here she gives her all; her performance speaks for itself. She seems to have a liking for this turf course.”

Now a five-time winner, two-time stakes winner and on-the-board finisher in 12 of 16 starts, Old Harbor has won four races from eight starts over the Belmont sod. Also winner of last year’s NYSS Cupecoy’s Joy at Belmont in a field of 12, she has five stakes placings to her credit and has earned $395,405.

Santiago continued, “When I saw the fractions – the half went in :50 [49.71 seconds] – it was a slow pace. That’s an open gallop for her; she’s a big girl. I just thought at that point if she had anything left she would absolutely accelerate from there, and she did. She had a good turn of foot.”

Old Harbor’s dam Royal Mast was purchased by Cash as a weanling for a mere $8,500 in 2001 at the Fasig-Tipton December mixed sale. A New York-bred daughter of Roy, Royal Mast won her debut on dirt and started twice more, including a runner-up allowance finish, before beginning her career as a broodmare.

Royal Mast has produced all winners from five foals to start, including another multiple stakes-placed Shipwreckstreasure, by Service Stripe, a $254,336-earner. Royal Mast’s most recent reported foal is a yearling colt by Girolamo.

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