Few willing to face Altissimo in Honey Jay
Only four foes could be found to face Ohio’s reigning horse of the year Altissimo, who on Saturday at Thistledown goes for a repeat victory in the $75,000 Honey Jay Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds and up.
Altissimo, by Noble Causeway, won five stakes last year to earn his state championship for owners Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski and trainer Richard Zielinski. That run was highlighted by a 3 ¾-length victory in the Honey Jay over Ohio’s then-reigning two-time horse of the year Mo Dont No, and a nine-length romp in the Best of Ohio Sprint on the state showcase program at Thistledown.
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Altissimo also won the Edward Babst/Albert Palacios Memorial Handicap, Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap, and Cardinal Handicap in Ohio, and finished second in the Dave’s Friend Stakes at Laurel Park in Maryland.
Altissimo returned from his winter break to repeat in the Babst/Palacios Memorial and the Gendelman Memorial, both at Belterra. He then again ventured out of his home state to face open company, winning the Hockessin Stakes by 5 ½ lengths on July 31 at Delaware.
Altissimo, who drew the rail under regular rider Christian Pilares, is the even-money favorite for the Honey Jay. The second choice at 3-1 on the morning line is multiple stakes-placed Over Icce for trainer Gary Johnson. In his last race, he crossed the line second to multiple stakes winner Cake Pop in an optional-claiming race at Thistledown, but was disqualified to third for interference.
Midnight Mikey, the 9-2 third choice on the morning line, has finished second in all three of his starts this year, all for trainer Louis Ruberto Jr. He finished second in the Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap in May off more than a five-month layoff, beaten a half-length by Mobil Solution, then was second in a pair of allowance races at Thistledown.
Brown Buckeye, trained by Jeff Radosevich, and Tancahua, also trained by Zielinski, complete the field. Brown Buckeye was third in last year’s Honey Jay to Altissimo and Mo Dont No.