Mr. Misunderstood makes Woodchopper his fifth straight stakes win

Mr. Misunderstood closed out a memorable year Saturday when he won his fifth consecutive stakes race in the $75,000 Woodchopper at Fair Grounds.

His grass record improves to 8 for 8.

The Woodchopper was one of two 3-year-old turf stakes on the card. It shared a program with the $75,000 Pago Hop won by Hallie Belle ($9.40).

Mr. Misunderstood ($5) has now won seven of eight starts in 2017, with his lone loss coming on dirt in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby. In the Woodchopper, he was content to stalk the pace early as St. Louie Guy led the field through fractions of 24.25 seconds for the opening quarter and 49.09 for the half-mile.

Mr. Misunderstood took the lead in the stretch of the race run at an about distance of a mile and increased his advantage for a 1 3/4-length win over First Premio. The winner covered the distance on a course rated firm in 1:35.95.

Shaun Bridgmohan was aboard Mr. Misunderstood, subbing for Florent Geroux, who has been in France this past week tending to his father, Dominique, who died on Friday.

Mr. Misunderstood started his streak this summer at Louisiana Downs, where he won the Prelude and Super Derby – both of which were moved to turf for 2017. He proceeded to win the Jefferson Cup and the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs before returning to Fair Grounds, where last year he won two turf races. He is trained by Brad Cox.

Flurry Racing Stables owns Mr. Misunderstood, a son of Archarcharch who earned $45,000 for his effort, which was his ninth win from 13 starts. He has now earned $409,694.

Hallie Belle wins Pago Hop

Hallie Belle became a stakes winner in the Pago Hop when she tracked the pace en route to a neck win over Into Summer. It was another half-length back to Sensitive in third.

Farrell, the winner of last year’s Fair Grounds Oaks, was scratched from the Pago Hop.

Hallie Belle sat just off pacesetter Into Summer, who set fractions of 24.18 seconds for the opening quarter of the about one-mile turf race and 48.11 for the half-mile mark. Hallie Belle moved to the lead in the stretch and covered the distance on a course rated firm in 1:36.14.

Robby Albarado was aboard for trainer Michael Stidham.

Hallie Belle won third straight race. Her streak started in her third career start Oct. 21, when she won a maiden special weight on the turf at Keeneland. She remained on the grass one start later, and accounted for a first-level allowance at Fair Grounds.

Hallie Belle is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro and races for Godolphin. She earned $45,000 to improve her career bankroll to $119,300.