Highway Star ends losing streak in Iroquois Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Highway Star salvaged what had been a frustrating year by rallying along the rail under David Cohen and winning Saturday’s $150,000 Iroquois Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares by a neck at Belmont Park.

Highway Star outlasted a four-wide rallying Satisfy, who got second by three-quarters of a length over Pauseforthecause. The first- and third-place finishers are owned and bred by Chester and Mary Broman. Highway Star is trained by Rodrigo Ubillo.

Pauseforthecause had to withstand an objection from Manny Franco, the rider of Filibustin, who took up when Pauseforthecause came in a step in midstretch. Pauseforthecause beat Filibustin by 3 1/2 lengths for third. The stewards disallowed the claim of foul.

The win was ninth in 20 starts for Highway Star, a 5-year-old daughter of Girolamo. Last year, at this time, she was pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

This year, little had gone right for Highway Star, who was winless in five races and had to deal with bad weather, questionable rides, and a few minor physical issues.

“Nothing has been right from the beginning of the year,” Ubillo said. “She got banged up in the stall, the weather at the beginning of the year, [bad] rides. It’s been frustrating for me, but I’m always optimistic and I know she’s a talented horse, so that keeps the dream alive.”

Ubillo wasn’t sure the dream would remain alive after Highway Star was last early in the Iroquois. But David Cohen, riding the mare for the first time, gradually got her into contention along the rail. Coming to the top of the lane, she was fourth, only 1 1/2 lengths behind Royal Inheritance and Filibustin, who battled through a half-mile in 45.64 seconds.

Cohen had the option of going outside or inside but when he noticed Royal Inheritance was drifting off the fence, Cohen guided Highway Star through the inside.

“I could see her head cocked around the turn, I could tell she was tiring,” Cohen said. “I knew if I could get in there, I’d be able to hold my position. She just burst right through, showed no hesitation at all.”

Highway Star covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.08 and returned $6.80 as the 2-1 favorite.

Ubillo said he was unsure whether to run Highway Star in the Iroquois or the $250,000 Empire Distaff at 1 1/16 miles later on the card. Ubillo didn’t like the 124-pound weight assignment and ultimately decided the Iroquois “made more sense for her.”

Neither Ubillo nor the Bromans were prepared to say whether Highway Star would race again. One race that might make sense for her is the Grade 3, $250,000 Go For Wand, a one-turn mile race at Aqueduct on Dec. 1.

Satisfy, making her stakes debut just two weeks after winning her third straight allowance race, was last down the backside and rallied for second in the Iroquois.

Jockey Junior Alvarado, the rider of Satisfy, said Palladian Bridge came over on him soon after the break “and took me out of the race. She picked it up little by little but it was too much to do.”