Honey Ryder wins The Very One

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Honey Ryder earned the first graded stakes victory of her career and set a new course record in the process when outfinishing Briviesca to post a neck victory in Sunday's Grade 3 at Gulfstream Park. Unfortunately that record lasted until Prince Arch eclipsed the mark an hour later in the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap.

Honey Ryder who was graded stakes placed on two previous occasions, got a perfect ground saving trip under jockey John Velazquez in the one mile and three eighth The Very One. A daughter of Lasting Approval, Honey Ryder angled off the hedge for racing room at the top of the stretch then ran down Briviesca in the closing strides.

Briviesca had to draw in off the also-eligible list to make the starting lineup for the $100,000 The Very One. Reserved near the back of the pack during the early stages of the race, Briviesca. made an aggressive move under jockey Jerry Bailey in the run down the backstretch the second time, got to the lead between calls near midstretch but could not withstand the winner in the shadow of the wire.

Vous rallied belatedly to finish third. High Court, the tepid 3-1 favorite in a field of 10 older fillies and mares, finished a non-threatening fourth.

Honey Ryder covered the distance in 2:11.7l seconds and paid $9.60.

"We had a good rail saving trip and when the opportunity came at the top of the stretch she was able to get the job done," said Todd Pletcher who trains Honey Ryder for the Glencrest Farm LLC.

Pletcher said Honey Ryder could make her next start in the Grade 2 Orchid Handicap on April 2.