New Money Honey keeps early lead in Wonder Again
ELMONT, N.Y. - In a race with no early speed, trainer Chad Brown selected the fastest of his three runners and put her on the lead in Thursday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont Park.
The fastest of his trio was New Money Honey, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, who got loose on the lead under Javier Castellano and cruised to a two-length victory in the Wonder Again. Fifty Five, also trained by Brown, finished second by 1 1/2 lengths over Dream Dancing. Coasted, who had her head turned when the gates opened and broke last, finished fourth. Enchanting Kitten, also trained by Brown, finished fifth followed by Corporate Queen.
The win was the third from five starts for New Money Honey, who had finished sixth in the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland in April in her 3-year-old debut.
“She was the fastest one of my three horses so I figured we’d send her out to the lead and see what happens,” Brown said. “She ran very well. I’m glad to see her redeem herself.”
Breaking from the outside post under Javier Castellano, New Money Honey easily made the lead running an opening quarter-mile in 24.44 seconds. She was stalked by Dream Dancing through a half-mile in 49.09 seconds, and six furlongs in 1:13.69. When Dream Dancing failed to sustain in upper stretch, New Money Honey kept on going and was never seriously threatened by Fifty Five, who did run well to be a clear second.
New Money Honey, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Bob Edwards’ e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.01 and returned $4.10.
“It was an easy ride, I give all the credit to Chad because of the way she handled, the way she just galloped along on the lead, very straightforward today,” Castellano said. “No speed in the race; basically I didn’t have to hustle to go to the lead. She was much the best today.”
Brown was glad to see Fifty Five run a better race than she did in the Memories of Silver when she finished a disappointing third.
“I was encouraged how she ran down the lane and she looks like she’ll appreciate some farther distance as well,” Brown said.
Brown said both New Money Honey and Fifty Five “are likely” to go on to the $1 million Belmont Oaks on July 8. Enchanting Kitten, who finished fifth, will likely go next in a first-level allowance.
