Habaya's late run captures Miesque

The hype about Habaya was correct.

Friday at Hollywood Park, Habaya won her first stakes in the $113,800 Miesque Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Richard Migliore, Habaya closed from fifth on the backstretch to win the Grade 3 race by three-quarters of a length over Internallyflawless, who rallied through the final furlong. Eloquently, making her U.S. debut, finished a nose behind for third in the field of 12, closing well on the rail.

Habaya ($6.80) ran a mile on turf in 1:37.07. It was only in the final furlong that she drew away from her rivals.

Owned by Shadwell Farm and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Habaya has won 2 of 3 starts and $135,000. She was second in the Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 9 in her stakes debut. The performance made her a top contender for the Miesque.

Pretty Katherine, who eventually finished seventh, set the early pace of 24.37 and 49.20 seconds. Habaya moved closer to the front on the final turn and took control in early stretch with a three-wide rally.

Emmy Darling, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth. The Miesque Stakes was Emmy Darling's first start since finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 24.