Hal Enters Grey Stakes Off Solid Stakes Win at Woodbine

Hal , a 2-year-old son of Accelerate  , goes for his third win in as many starts in the $150,000 Grey Stakes (G3), part of a Nov. 26 Woodbine card that also features the $150,000 Mazarine Stakes (G3).

Trained by Darwin Banach, Hal arrives at the 1 1/16-mile main track Tapeta race off a strong debut Oct. 2, and an equally impressive encore in the Display Stakes Nov. 5.

"He's doing really, really well," said Banach. "For some reason, it's amazing when they know they've won a stakes race. They seem to grow up, mature and get the hang of it."   

In his career bow, under jockey Justin Stein, the chestnut gelding, at 13-1, was four lengths on top at the stretch call in the seven-furlong main track allowance race, crossing the wire 1 1/4 lengths on top in a time of 1:23.69.

Owned by Suzi Shoemaker and First Corp. Thoroughbreds (co-breeder with Shoemaker's Lantern Hill Farm), Hal followed up that performance with a stellar showing in his first stakes test.

Sent on his way at 2-1, Hal dueled down the lane with Ticker Tape Home , and earned a hard-fought half-length victory in a time of 1:22.00. 

Banach said he continues to marvel at the maturity of his young star in the morning and afternoon.

"I think the one thing that stands out is how easy it is to train him. It just makes everything so easy. You don't have to worry about anything with a horse like this," he said. "His last win, he had to dig down, and he wanted to win that race. I think that filly (Ticker Tape Home) could have kicked on if he didn't decide, 'This is going to be my race.' I saw that desire of wanting to win down the lane, and to me that was the most impressive part. That was a $625,000 Mark Casse purchase we were up against. You don't go walking by them by accident."

Hal worked five furlongs in 1:03 4/5 over the Tapeta Nov. 19 and appears heading in good shape into the Grey. 

"He's doing great. The work, it was just a little maintenance thing. He didn't go very fast, but we just protected him a little bit. Justin came back and said, 'I just have so much horse all the time.' He's very happy about it.

Other starters include Bluebirds Over , an impressive debut winner for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.  

Bred and owned by Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson, the son of the late English Channel  romped to an eight-length score over a mile and 70 yards on the Gulfstream Park synthetic on Nov. 5. Sent off at 5-1, Bluebirds Over stopped the timer in 1:42.71.  

"It was a very nice effort," said Joseph. "He had trained well on the dirt leading up to the race. Obviously, he's got turf in him being an English Channel, so Tapeta was the closest thing we could get. But he ran well. He's a horse that won as visually pleasing as a horse could win. It's going to be tough going second time out against these horses, but we're going to give him a try."  

The Mazarine has attracted Honor D Lady , a dark bay daughter of Honor Code  owned by John Matthew Thompson and Madaket Stables, who broke her maiden Oct. 7 at Gulfstream in her second career start. 

Trained by Joseph, the dark bay romped to a 7 1/2-length victory for Final Furlong Farm on the Hallandale synthetic going 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.76. She finished second in her debut Sept. 16 at Gulfstream on the dirt.

"The first race we ran her on the dirt because she had trained okay, but we were always trying to get her on the turf or the Tapeta," said Joseph. "We were following her half brother (Churchtown ) who has run well on the Tapeta and grass at Woodbine. We think she's a two-turn filly where distance is going to be the key with her. We thought going into the second race that she had a good chance to win, and she exceeded our expectations a bit. She quickened up nicely, and we considered Woodbine right after that."  

Bred in Kentucky by William Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo, Honor D Lady worked three furlongs :37 4/5 over the Woodbine Tapeta Nov 21. Honor D Lady has seemed to take well to her new surroundings.

"She's been fine. She's been eating well, which you want to see when they ship. So far, so good. The one thing with her is that she is feisty. Even going around the shedrow, you better make sure you are aware of where she is. She will look to kick you. She's very feisty in that way, but on the track she is all business," said Joseph.

Edgard Zayas will be aboard Honor D Lady.

Entries: Mazarine S. (G3)

Woodbine, Saturday, November 26, 2022, Race 10

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• All Weather Track
• $150,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 5:51 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Collect Dattt (ON)	Leo Salles	119	Kevin Attard	20/1
2	2Forever Dixie (KY)	Patrick Husbands	119	Mark E. Casse	2/1
3	3Renegade Rebel (KY)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	119	Mark E. Casse	3/1
4	4State of Mind (KY)	Luis Contreras	119	Josie Carroll	8/1
5	5Peacock Lass (KY)	Justin Stein	119	Rodolphe Brisset	6/1
6	6Honor D Lady (KY)	Edgard J. Zayas	119	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	5/2
7	7Ryder Ryder Ryder (KY)	Patrick Husbands	119	Mark E. Casse	8/1