By Bill Heller
Joseph Birnbaum’s home-bred, five-year-old mare Old Harbor disputed the early lead with Invading Humor, cleared that rival and rolled to a 6 ¾ length victory under Manny Franco in the 36th running of the mile-and-a-sixteenth $200,000 Ticonderoga Stakes shifted from grass to the sloppy main track on New York-bred Showcase Day at Belmont Park Saturday. Old Harbor was 5-2 in the field of seven and Invading Humor 6-1 under Jose Lezcano.
Tahoe Tigress, who was 5-1 with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, rallied to finish second, 8 ¾ lengths clear of Flipcup, the 2-1 favorite ridden by John Velazquez. Selenite, who was 10-1 under Kendrick Carmouche, finished fourth, four lengths behind Flipcup.
Franco was concerned how Old Harbor galloped out after the race. “I didn’t like the way she pulled up,” he said. “I think it was the right-hind leg. I tried to protect her.”
There was no immediate word from the New York Racing Association regarding Old Harbor’s status after the race.
Russell Cash trains Old Harbor, a daughter of Raffie’s Majesty out of Royal Mast by Roy who had won two of her four prior starts on grass. She hadn’t raced on dirt since November 15th, 2015, when she finished third in a $125,000 division of the New York Stallion Series.
She prepped for the Ticonderoga with a bullet four-furlong dirt work at Monmouth in :48 3/5, the fastest of 37 horses working that distance on Oct. 7th.
Bettors liked her Saturday and she broke sharply. So did Invading Humor on her inside. Old Harbor took a narrow lead on Invading Humor in a :23.58 first quarter, then put Invading Humor away. Old Harbor took a 2 ½ length lead after a half-mile in :47.69 and stretched the margin to three lengths, hitting three-quarters in 1:13.09.
Tahoe Tigress made a bold rush into second but couldn’t get near Old Harbor, who continued on strongly to the wire, winning in 1:46.05.
Old Harbor is now two-for-five on dirt with one second and one third. On turf, she is six-for-20 with three seconds and three thirds for total earnings of more than $600,000.
