Goodonehoney scores impressive win in Weber City Miss

Someone knew something.

Goodonehoney, at odds of 8-1, had won her only start by 4 3/4 lengths, but that had been a six-furlong maiden race open to horses entered for a $40,000 claiming price or Maryland-breds like Goodonehoney. Yet there was Goodonehoney sitting on the tote board at odds of 3-1 as the gate sprang in the $125,000 Weber City Miss Stakes, a two-turn dirt stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Laurel Park.

The odds felt way too low. It turned out they were much too high.

Making the early lead under Steve Hamilton, Goodonehoney set a strong pace, going her first quarter-mile in 23.59 seconds, her half in a testing 46.76, and six furlongs in 1:11.89. Hamilton set his filly down for the drive, and Goodonehoney responded like a seasoned veteran, cruising home to win by seven lengths.

“Once she got the lead, she kind of pricked her ears a little bit, and I was able to get her to relax,” Hamilton said. “She did everything the right way today.”

Indy Union ran a strange and impressive race in her own right to get second. Racing in midpack past the half-mile pole, she dropped back concerningly at the head of the far turn before finding her stride three furlongs out and coming with a long, sustained outside run to gain the place.

Shamrock Rose, the 17-10 favorite, raced one-paced throughout and finished third, while Stakes On a Plane rallied from last to cross the finish fourth but was placed sixth for coming in and fouling Layla Noor at the eighth pole.

Goodonehoney, off six furlongs in 1:11.89 and a mile in 1:36.66, was timed in 1:43.49 for about 1 1/16 miles on a fast track, paying just $8.40 to win. The filly, by Great Notion and out of the Tenpins mare Diva’s Gold, had broken slowly and overcome trouble to win going away in her debut, a performance that encouraged trainer Jason Egan to aim high with Goodonehoney.

“She really opened our eyes the first time she ran,” Egan said. “We’ll see how she comes out, but if all’s well and she’s thriving, I think we’d be more than happy to represent the home team as a Maryland-bred in the Black-Eyed Susan.”

The Black-Eyed Susan is scheduled for Friday, May 18. We’ll see if Goodonehoney’s backers are out in force again.