Half Heaven makes amends

Half Heaven, upset as the favorite by Ella Belle in the Feb. 10 Likely Exchange Stakes at Turfway Park, avenged the loss to that rival in the $50,000 Wintergreen Stakes, scoring a comfortable 1 1/2-length victory.

Under jockey Miguel Mena, Half Heaven was in a perfect striking position early, settling in fourth as Sanguinity and Ella Belle dueled for the lead with early fractions of 23.93 seconds, 47.34, and 1:12.63 in the one-mile race. As that duo began to weaken heading into the final turn, Half Heaven began to steadily advance, pulling alongside the leaders as the field entered the stretch.

She then drew clear from a weary Ella Belle and outfinished runner-up Hayden Valley, who had been blocked in traffic on the second turn and in early stretch. Hayden Valley finished 4 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Ella Belle.

Half Heaven ($5.20), a 5-year-old daughter of Regal Classic owned by Stronach Stable and trained by Dale Romans, raced a mile in 1:37.91.

She improved her record to 3 wins and 1 second in 4 starts on Polytrack. Her stakes victory was her second such win at Turfway. She also won the My Charmer Stakes in December.