Arctic Breeze runs away with Heller Stakes

Arctic Breeze is not just winning her two-turn races on the West Coast this year. She is overwhelming her rivals.

After a four-length win in an allowance race at a mile at Emerald Downs on Sept. 14, Arctic Breeze won the longest race of her career in Saturday’s $75,450 Bart Heller Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the opening day of the Golden State Racing meeting at Pleasanton.

The nine-week Golden State Racing meeting, which runs through Dec. 15, has replaced dates previously run at Golden Gate Fields, which closed permanently in June.

Sent off favored, Arctic Breeze ($5.20) was always near the front under jockey William Antongeorgi, stalking 4-1 Indy’s Star through a slow pace of 25.58 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 50.95 for a half-mile.

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Arctic Breeze moved alongside Indy’s Star on the turn and took the lead with a two-wide move approaching the stretch. The trailing five runners could not keep pace. Arctic Breeze won by five lengths, finishing in 1:51.70.

Jessebear (4-1) closed from last on the backstretch to finish second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Indy’s Star.

Mars Magic finished fourth, followed by Vulin and Breve. Anthonys Cleopatra was scratched.

Arctic Breeze, a 3-year-old filly by Arrogate, races for Peter Redekop and trainer Blaine Wright. A winner of 5 of 13 starts, Arctic Breeze has earned $139,445. The Heller Stakes was her second stakes win, preceded by the Kent Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs at Emerald Downs in July.

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