Arroyo happy to be back aboard Highway Star

ELMONT, N.Y. – Highway Star worked a half-mile in 50 seconds Thursday over the Belmont Park training track, the second of four scheduled moves the New York-bred filly will have leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Jockey Angel Arroyo was aboard for the work, which Daily Racing Form timed in splits of 12.50, 24.64 for the quarter, and a final quarter in 25.36. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.08 over a track rated good.

Trainer Rodrigo Ubillo called it “just a maintenance move,” and it came a week after she breezed three furlongs in 37.85.

Arroyo will regain the mount on Highway Star for the Breeders’ Cup. Arroyo had ridden Highway Star in seven consecutive races, including four wins, but he couldn’t ride her in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on Sept. 24 because he had shoulder pain from a spill two days earlier.

Luis Saez, Arroyo’s cousin, rode Highway Star to a neck victory in the Gallant Bloom.

Arroyo said he appreciates “the opportunity and the confidence” owner Chester Broman and Ubillo showed in him by giving him the mount back.

“My opinion, the filly has a big, big chance,” said Arroyo, who will be riding in his first Breeders’ Cup race. “I like my filly 100 percent.”

Ubillo said Arroyo has played an integral part in Highway Star’s success – she has won 8 of 13 starts – so he didn’t want to make a rider change.

“I hate to change things around now that we are here,” Ubillo said.

Arroyo said Highway Star would work the next two Thursdays, including Oct. 26, the day she is scheduled to ship to Southern California.