NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
By Sarah Mace
Chester and Mary Broman’s Highway Star, the lone 3-year-old in a field of seven fillies and mares, parlayed victory in the Staten Island division of the New York Stallion Stakes (NYSS) series on November 13 into a graded stakes win just 20 days later, when she captured Saturday’s featured Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand Stakes at Aqueduct.
Stretching out from seven furlongs to a one-turn mile, but already proven twice at the distance, Highway Star toted 115 pounds for the race and was the fourth betting choice in the field at odds of 7-1. She was reunited with jockey Angel Arroyo, the win rider for the NYSS.
Away well, Highway Star settled four-wide near the back of the field along the backstretch behind a moderate pace (24.20), which was set by fellow New York-bred Wonder Gal and 50-1 longshot Burn Control who dueled on the front end.
Getting closer into contention, Highway Star took over the third spot in the turn and set her sights on tackling the leaders. Highway Star wore down and collared Wonder Gal, now alone on the lead, in the final furlong, but still had a fast-closing High Ridge Road to hold off.
NYRA/Annette Jasko
Highway Star persevered and secured the victory by a determined nose in 1:38.07. Wonder Gal finished another neck back in third, while Bar of Gold checked in fourth. Rounding out the running order were Cayman Croc, Camille Claudet and Burn Control. [VIDEO]
“The pace was too slow [early] and, I don’t know what happened,” said winning trainer Rodrigo Ubillo.
“Angel was too far back [on the backside] with the pace and everything. I thought we were going to be third with a good pace but he was almost next to last at one point. [When the fractions came up,] we were a little bit concerned, but it worked out just fine.”
Arroyo said, “I feel happy. My filly broke good. I put her on in stalking position and on the backside, we were clear and went through. I had her in good control in the stretch and she really responded. [She was] real strong, I’m excited for her future. She’s good.”
Ubillo has plans to carry on with his graded stakes winner when Aqueduct racing shifts to the inner track. “You will see me back as long as she comes out of the race good,” said Ubillo. “Every time she runs, she just gets better and better, more feisty and more happy.”
Ubillo knows firsthand that he has a happy horse on his hands: “I ride her myself [in the mornings] and she gives me a good energy. She’s almost dropped me off like twice; she jumps and kicks, she’s just happy. She likes her job.”
Unraced at two, Highway Star won her first two starts at three, breaking her maiden on debut last May at Belmont and following up with a restricted allowance victory in July. Unplaced in her first stakes try, the Statue of Liberty division of the NYSS at Saratoga, she finished third in the Fleet Indian at the Spa before registering back-to-back wins in a second-level allowance race and the Staten Island. Highway Star’s five wins and a third in seven starts, brings her earnings to $369,000.
Highway Star is one of three winners, and the first stakes winner, out of Stolen Star, a multiple stakes-placed homebred for the Bromans, who is also a half sister to their multiple stakes winner and Friend or Foe, who is now a sire.
Highway Star’s sire Girolamo, a Grade 1-winning son of A.P. Indy owned by Darley, began his stud career in 2012 at Becky Thomas and Dennis Narlinger’s Sequel Stallions New York before relocating to Kentucky.
