Retiring Heavenly Humor repeats in Soviet Problem

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Heavenly Humor ($4) wound up her racing career with a game victory in the $64,600 Soviet Problem Handicap at Bay Meadows on Saturday.

Heavenly Humor, who won the race in wire-to-wire style last year, edged perfect tripper Fire Bolt by a head in the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares, winning in 1:09.27 over a wet fast track.

"She's all heart. There's no give-up in her," winning jockey Russell Baze said. "She was slipping on the turn, and I didn't think we were going to win. As soon as she switched leads in the stretch and heard (Aclevershadeofjade) coming outside her, she started running, and it was all over."

Fire Bolt got a perfect trip, moving to the lead at the quarter pole as Yerevan Star lugged out and floated Heavenly Humor three wide. She held second by three-quarters of a length over Aclevershadeofjade.

"She did the job," said winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who owns the 5-year-old mare with Jerry Jamgotchian.

"This is likely the last go-round for her. I'd like to race her another year, but she's so valuable as a breeding prospect. We're looking at several very good stallions."

Hollendorfer, who won his seventh straight Northern California stakes, saw Heavenly Humor win her seventh race in 15 starts. She earned $33,450 to boost her career earnings to $246,595. A winner of five stakes races, she won for her sixth time in eight starts at Bay Meadows.