Micheline Gets Up Late to Take Honey Ryder Stakes
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Micheline wins the Honey Ryder Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Godolphin homebred Micheline scored the first stakes win of her sophomore season May 2 with a late-running score in the $75,000 Honey Ryder Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Ridden by Joe Bravo and trained by Michael Stidham, Micheline broke slowly in the 12-horse field and was settled just off the pace on the rail at the back of the field. Envoutante got away cleanly from the break and took advantage of her own spot on the rail to take command.
Mimina's Team and Astoria Kitten followed closely on Envoutante's heels as the filly set a leisurely pace along the backside, clicking off fractions of :24.62 and :49.01 through the half-mile. The leader's margin was cut to a half-length by Astoria Kitten as six furlongs went in 1:12.27, and the pair dueled for the lead turning for home.
Micheline made up significant ground along the backstretch under a patient ride from Bravo. As the field approached the far turn, Micheline drifted off the rail and made a four-wide move to get within striking distance at the top of the lane. Guided back toward the inside, Micheline was just a half-length behind a waning Envoutante at the top of the stretch. When prompted by Bravo, the filly dug in, kicked forward in the final strides, and pulled away to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
"I talked to Bravo yesterday, we talked about the race, and I just said, 'She just needs to get a better trip than she got last time with some speed to run at,"' Stidham said. "He gave her a perfect inside trip, got her out turning for home and she made her kick that we know she's got. It was sweet."
The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.10 on turf rated firm.
Favored Highland Glory, who also was slow out of the gate, made her own late-running effort from 11th to take second by a nose over Stunning Sky. Envoutante faded to fourth, followed by Mimina's Team, Astoria Kitten, Diamonds Are A, Onyx, La Rusia, Seducer, Bajan Girl, and Ivyetsu.
Sent off at odds of 17-1, Micheline returned $37.40, $11.20, and $6.40 on a $2 wager.
"Turf races, it's all trip. We were able to sit in a good position and I didn't even have to move on her until turning for home," Bravo said. "Mr. Stidham did a great job bringing this filly around. She really stepped up to the plate today."
The Honey Ryder was the third start of 2020 for Micheline, who entered off a seventh-place finish in the March 7 Florida Oaks (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs. Before that, she finished second in the Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T) Feb. 1 at Gulfstream.
Micheline scored her first black-type win and broke her maiden in September in the Sorority Stakes at Momouth Park. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Bernardini , she is the seventh foal and first stakes winner out of the Include mare Panty Raid, a millionaire who won the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) during her sophomore campaign.
Micheline improved her record to 3-1-1 from eight starts with $147,578 in earnings.