Havre de Grace Headlines Woodward Stakes

by Bodog Racebook | Aug 29 2011

On Saturday, Sept. 3, Saratoga Race Course  will host the $750,000 Gr. 1 Woodward Stakes. A 1 1/8 mile dirt test for 3-year-olds and up, the Woodward Stakes has attracted top older filly Havre de Grace, as well as Mission Impazible and Flat Out.

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Boasting a record of 4-3-1-0 so far in 2011, Havre de Grace is a frontrunner for the Breeders' Cup Classic in November. She began her campaign with three straight victories: in the Gr. 3 Azeri Stakes in March and the Gr. 1 Apple Blossom Stakes in April at Oaklawn Park, and the Gr. 3 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park in June. In her latest outing, she lost by a nose to Blind Luck in the Gr. 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park in July – a rivalry that may come to a head at the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Till then, trainer Larry Jones and owner Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms have decided to point their 4-year-old Saint Liam filly to the Woodward Stakes where she will face males for the first time. Kentucky-bred Havre de Grace posted a bullet 6-furlong workout in 1:13.20 at Delaware Park on Aug. 23 in preparation. She has earned $1,536,175 from 12 career starts.

Looking to earn his first grade 1 victory is 4-year-old Mission Impazible. Trained by Todd Pletcher for Twin Creeks Racing Stables, Mission Impazible was on the Triple Crown trail as a 3-year-old but finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby in May and suffered a season-ending knee injury that sidelined him until Jan. 2011. He has had an inconsistent year so far, yo-yoing between top-two and disappointment. After finishing runner-up in the Gr. 3 Mineshaft Handicap in February and winning the Gr. 2 New Orleans Handicap in March, Mission Impazible mustered up a seventh-place showing in the Gr. 3 Alysheba Stakes in May. But a month later, he was second by just a neck in the Gr.1 Stephen Foster Handicap. In his latest outing, the Gr. 1 Whitney Handicap on Aug. 6, Mission Impazible finished sixth; if he holds true to form, this of Unbridled's Song could be sitting on a big race. He has earned $910,463 from 12 starts and is 3-4-2.

A son of Flatter, Flat Out is also seeking his first career grade 1 victory. This 5-year-old horse began his 2011 campaign on May 30 at Lone Star Park, clinching runner-up in the Gr. 3 Lone Star Park Handicap. A disappointing sixth-place finish in the Gr. 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs June 18 preceded his first graded stakes victory: a 13-1 win in the Gr. 2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park in July. The Charles Dickey trainee was a clear second-best in his latest outing, the Gr. 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 6, bringing his career record to 4-2-0 from 10 starts and $509,713 in earnings.

Also possible for the Woodward Stakes are Convocation and Duke of Mischief.

Did you know: In 2009, filly Rachel Alexandra captured the Woodward Stakes on her way to winning the Horse of the Year Award.

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