San Dare takes Honey Fox

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - San Dare, last at the top of the stretch, finished full of run on the extreme outside then outgamed Calista to post a head victory in Sunday's $100,000 . Amonita, the 7-5 favorite in a field of 10 filly and mare turf specialists, finished a tiring sixth after reaching the lead in early stretch.

San Dare became the fifth straight double digit stakes winner since the meet began on Friday, returning $25.20 after covering 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf course in 1:46.19 under Mark Guidry.

"Mark(Guidry) came up with a game plan to take her back and make one big run and it worked," said Rick Hiles who trains San Dare for owner David Mounts. "I thought the two horse(Speciality) would put some pressure on All American Bertie and when I saw her on the lead in :24 4/5 I was a little worried. But my horse has really gotten good over the last six months and I knew when she came down the lane that she would put in her run."

AllAmerican Bertie led for the first seven furlongs of the Grade 3 Honey Fox before relinquishing the advantage. Amonita, the 119 pound highweight, forged to a short lead near the furlong marker but at that point the field began to bunch with San Dare making up ground rapidly on the extreme outside and Calista looking for room between horses. That pair eventually hooked up in late stretch with San Dare having just enough momentum to stick her head in front nearing the wire. Laurica also rallied from the back of the pack to finish third.

The Honey Fox was the second stakes victory and first graded win for San Dare, a 5-year-old daughter of Dare And Gold and San Empery.

Hiles said he'd likely point San Dare to the 1 3/8 mile The Very One Handicap on Feb. 8.

Earlier in the day Follow Me Home continued the upset trend with a gate to wire three quarter length victory in the $71,400 Dame Mystereuse Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Something Silver finished second with 4-5 favorite House Party a troubled third.

Follow Me Home is owned by the partnership of Robert Levine and Robert Braunsdorf and trained by Joe Catanese Jr. She paid $30.20.