Belmont Park: Hessonite targets Sheepshead Bay

The New York-bred Hessonite overcame some traffic Saturday to win the Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Peace Preserver.

The win was the first in a graded stakes for Hessonite, a daughter of Freud who is now 10 for 19. Hessonite has earned $803,310 for owners Philip DiLeo and William Punk Jr.

David Donk, the trainer of Hessonite, said he would likely point Hessonite for the Sheepshead Bay on May 25.

“She came back very well,” Donk said. “It was an easy race on her. I know it’s back in three weeks. We’ll see what it looks like. She showed a big turn of foot.”

Hessonite earned a career-best Beyer of 94.

Lubash kicked off the big weekend for New York-bred turf horses by winning the Grade 3 Fort Marcy by a half-length in a stakes-record time of 1:38.89 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer Christophe Clement said Lubash would likely be pointed to the $125,000 Kingston on June 1, a card that features seven stakes restricted to New York-breds.