Heavenhasmynikki rolls in First Lady Stakes

Heavenhasmynikki scored her second stakes victory of the year in her native Ohio as she rolled to a five-length victory in the $75,000 First Lady Stakes, for statebred fillies and mares, on Saturday afternoon at Mahoning Valley.

Heavenhasmynikki, Grade 2-placed earlier this year before competing in the Kentucky Oaks, won the Diana Stakes in September at Thistledown. The filly, trained by Gary Johnson for Ron Paolucci, then stretched out to 1 1/8 miles for the Best of Ohio Distaff on Oct. 13, but finished fourth there. She was cutting back to her favored six-furlong distance, at which she is unbeaten, for the First Lady.

Heavenhasmynikki ($3.40) and jockey Luis Colon, who broke from post 6 in the field of seven, settled just off the hip of Dancin' Rosie, who was away quickly from the rail to post opening splits of 22.93 seconds for the quarter and 45.86 seconds for the half. Heavenhasmynikki poked her head in front at the quarter pole, and, with steady left-handed encouragement from Colon, widened as she pleased from there to the final margin. She stopped the clock in 1:11.51.

Queen City Oaks winner Magna Rose rallied from fifth to be second, edging Emmy's Candy by a half-length.