Stewards put Honey Rose on top

Honey Rose was declared the winner of the first stakes of the Ellis Park meet, the HBPA Handicap, when Barbette was disqualified for bumping her during the stretch run of the $50,000 turf race Saturday.

Ridden by Calvin Borel, Honey Rose finished a nose behind Barbette at the finish but subsequently was named the winner after Borel logded an objection. Honey Rose, a 6-year-old Argentine-bred mare trained by Todd Pletcher, returned $3.40 as the heavy favorite in a field of nine fillies and mares.

Barbette, a 7-1 shot ridden by Orlando Mojica, led throughout the one-mile race and appeared to narrowly hold sway at the end, but she drifted out down the stretch and was judged to have impeded Honey Rose, who raced in second the entire way.

Tiz Nik finished third, 3 3/4 lengths behind the top pair.