New Money Honey gets paid in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

ARCADIA, Calif. – New Money Honey is rapidly developing a diverse portfolio.

A 2-year-old filly, New Money Honey won her stakes debut and recorded her first victory in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo Stakes on a yielding turf course at Belmont Park on Oct. 2, her second career start. On Friday at Santa Anita, New Money Honey won her Grade 1 debut in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on a firm course at Santa Anita.

The win left owner Bob Edwards and trainer Chad Brown looking forward to longer turf races for 3-year-old fillies in 2017 and a possible try in a major stakes on dirt in the spring in the buildup to the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5.

“I think the sky is the limit,” Brown said. “A mile is as short as she wants to run. I think this filly has an unbelievable future.

“It’s not out of the question that we give her a spin on the dirt to see how she handles it before the Kentucky Oaks.”

New Money Honey ($15) had no trouble with a firm turf course in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf. Ridden by Javier Castellano, New Money Honey was fifth early and raced in fourth place on the backstretch, about five lengths behind Lull, who set a quick pace of 22.35 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.75 for a half-mile.

New Money Honey rallied three wide on the turn and was fourth in early stretch. She closed steadily through the stretch to take the lead in the final furlong. New Money Honey was timed in 1:34.01. She finished a half-length in front of Coasted, who closed from last in a field of 14. Cavale Doree, who was 10th with a quarter-mile remaining, rallied to finish third, 1 1/2 lengths behind New Money Honey.

Lull, who led by as much as 3 1/2 lengths on the backstretch, held fourth and was followed by Rymska, La Coronel, La Force, Sweeping Paddy, Roly Poly, Spain Burg, Intricately, Happy Mesa, Madam Dancealot and Hydrangea.

La Coronel, the winner of the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 12, was the 4-1 favorite. She was 13th early and raced wide throughout.

Coasted closed well on the rail in the stretch. The narrow loss was a frustration for trainer Leah Gyarmati.

“She had a good bit of trouble,” Gyarmati said. “I think that’s why she didn’t win. I was hoping she’d break and be a little closer.”

The BC Juvenile Fillies Turf was the first start in the United States for Cavale Doree, who previously raced in France. Jockey Flavien Prat said the tight track at Santa Anita, compared to French racecourses, caught Cavale Doree by surprise.

“She didn’t break very fast,” Prat said. “I had to put her in the race. She had a little bit of trouble on the turn. On the backstretch, she made a nice move.”

New Money Honey gave Brown his third career win in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf. He won the race in 2014 with Lady Eli at Santa Anita. Brown and Castellano agreed that New Money Honey would be best served by racing as a stalker.

“I like the way she did it,” Castellano said. “I had a lot of confidence with my filly. This filly is amazing. She gave me a powerful move.”

New Money Honey, by Medaglia d’Oro, was purchased for $450,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale. She has earned $686,600 for Edwards, of Boca Raton, Fla. Friday’s race left Edwards and Brown with high expectations for next year.

“We had a perfect setup,” Brown said. “This is a young horse that’s getting better and a jockey that knows her.”