Holy Helena making turf debut in allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The theory that horses who like synthetic surfaces will also relish the grass will be put to the test here Sunday when defending Queen’s Plate winner Holy Helena makes her turf debut under third-level allowance and optional-claiming conditions for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

Holy Helena flourished over Woodbine’s artificial surface last season. Not only did she defeat males by a convincing 3 1/2 lengths in the prestigious Queen’s Plate, she also won the Woodbine Oaks four weeks earlier and capped her 3-year-old campaign with a second-place finish, again versus the boys, in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby. The versatile homebred daughter of Ghostzapper owned by Frank Stronach won her maiden earlier in the year over the main track at Belmont Park.

“We wanted to try the turf as long as we were down here with her for the winter again,” Jerkens said. “She seems to like the grass working on it, and the Ghostzappers seem to handle it okay. She’s not bred much for the turf on the dam side, but it’s kind of one of those nothing-to-lose type of deals. They say horses who like synthetics like the turf, so we’ll see. We’ll give her a crack. This race might actually determine what we do with her the rest of the year.”

Jerkens nominated Holy Helena to the Grade 3 Suwannee River here next weekend, but said he is committed to Sunday’s allowance feature.

“She’s probably better suited to the distance of the Suwannee River” – 1 1/8 miles – “but the competition would be tougher for sure and I was also able to get one of the top jocks” -- Jose Ortiz – “to ride her Sunday,” Jerkens said.

Holy Helena could face her toughest competition from the stakes-placed Shaan and recent allowance winner Liberty Kitten. Temple Fur, Flying Tipat, and Kylia Instinct complete the field.