Myhartblongstodady might be able to shake loose in John Hettinger Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – While Myhartblongstodady may not be a horse that has to have the lead to be successful, she certainly has done her best work when able to secure the front early.
In the $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes for New York-bred females on Friday at Belmont Park, it appears Myhartblongstodady could have the lead to herself if her connections so choose. If she’s in front early, Myhartblongstodady could prove difficult to catch in the 1 1/8-mile turf race.
Last year, Myhartblongstodady reeled off three consecutive victories in front-running fashion, including the Yaddo at Saratoga and Ticonderoga at Belmont. She is winless in five starts since, though she did come from off the pace to be second in the Yaddo Stakes on Aug. 27 at Saratoga.
Friday, Myhartblongstodady will break from post 6 under Jose Lezcano in what will be a seven-horse field after the scratch of main-track-only entrants Dancing Kiki and Make Mischief.
“I’m going to leave it to Jose, but if she breaks well and takes the lead, I’m going to let her go and if somebody wants to go we can sit right off and see whoever’s going to be on the lead,” trainer Jorge Abreu said.
In the Yaddo, Myhartblongstodady broke well, but was taken back off the pace by Lezcano. Myhartblongstodady made a move down the backstretch to draw into contention, but was blocked for several yards before finding room in midstretch. Once presented an opening, Lezcano guided her on through, but they were beaten by Giacosa, who had an unimpeded path down the center of the track. Myhartblongstodady was second by 1 1/4 lengths over Classic Lady, who is back in this field.
The 1 1/8 miles of the Hettinger is a question mark for all the runners in this field. The one time Myhartblongstodady tried 1 1/8 miles was coming off a layoff in the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa in March. She led early and finished last of 10, beaten five lengths.
Classic Lady has finished behind Myhartblongstodady the last two times they met, including the Yaddo where Classic Lady finished third.
“I don’t have her quite as good as she was last year and I’m not sure why,” trainer Christophe Clement said of Classic Lady. “But she’s training well, she looks well.”
In her one try at 1 1/8 miles, Classic Lady finished second to Wegetsdamunnys in an allowance race at Saratoga in July 2019. Clement did not train her then.
Clement said he liked the way Classic Lady finished in the Yaddo.
“The other day she finished the race pretty well and she wasn’t getting tired, so why not?” Clement said of running her at 1 1/8 miles in the Hettinger.
Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Classic Lady from the outside post.
Ice Princess handled 1 1/8 miles in the slop winning an open first-level allowance on Aug 19 at Saratoga. She has raced on turf only once, finishing fourth in an allowance race.
Also in the field are Pecatonica and Dancingwthdaffodls, fourth and seventh in the Yaddo. Completing the field on turf are Cara’s Dreamer and Two Cent Tootsie.