Harmonize, Hawksmoor meet again in Mrs. Revere
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Racing in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Oct. 15 at Keeneland, Harmonize and Hawksmoor were separated by a nose when second and third in a blanket finish that was won by the now California-bound Time and Motion.
Renewing their rivalry Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs, there seems to be little separating them again. Harmonize is a narrow 2-1 morning-line favorite over Hawksmoor at 5-2 in a race that drew 14 plus an also-eligible.
Although they finished virtually together in the Queen Elizabeth II, they differ from other perspectives. Harmonize is a closer, Hawksmoor a front-runner. Harmonize has been exclusively U.S.-based, while Hawksmoor was making her first U.S. start in the Queen Elizabeth II.
Prior to that start, Hawksmoor traveled across Europe, racing in England, Germany, France, and Ireland, with wins in a Group 2 in Germany and a Group 3 in England.
Since the Queen Elizabeth II, Hawksmoor has been based with trainer Arnaud Delacour at the Fair Hill Training Center, where she has impressed him with three fast works over the synthetic Tapeta surface.
“She’s been very easy to adapt – she’s obviously a pretty smart filly,” he said. “From the very first day she was here, she looked like she had been here all her life.”
Florent Geroux rides Hawksmoor, a 3-year-old daughter of Azamour owned by Lael Stables.
Harmonize, the lone Grade 1 winner in the lineup, having taken the Del Mar Oaks last summer, is highweighted in the Mrs. Revere. She will carry 123 pounds, including regular rider Junior Alvarado. Harmonize spots Hawksmoor three pounds and all of her other rivals five pounds apiece.
Noble Beauty, also entered in the Winter Memories on Friday at Aqueduct, could scratch from the Mrs. Revere, opening a spot for the also-eligible Noble’s Fault to draw into the field. Noble Beauty’s trainer, Chad Brown, said Wednesday that he was leaning toward running her in the Winter Memories.
The Mrs. Revere, a race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf, appears to have drawn a legitimate amount of pace, with Dear Elaine and Caren joining Hawksmoor as horses regularly accustomed to racing on or near the lead.
Key Contenders
Caren, by Society’s Chairman
Last 3 Beyers: 86-90-82
◗ Is riding a four-race win streak, though three of those victories came in stakes restricted to fillies foaled in Canada or Ontario.
Harmonize, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 99-93-85
◗ Blocked during the second turn in the Queen Elizabeth II, she wasn’t able to angle into the clear until the stretch and then finished strongest through the lane.
Hawksmoor, by Azamour
Last 3 Beyers: 99-NA-NA
◗ May appreciate a cutback in distance from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/16 miles after tiring late in the Queen Elizabeth II as well as in some other races at 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/4 miles in Europe this year.