Go Blue Or Go Home Claims Highlander Again
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Jim and Susan Hill's Go Blue Or Go Home won his second edition of the $200,000 Highlander Stakes (Can-II) in track record time July 5 at Woodbine, covering the six furlongs over firm turf in 1:07.18.
The victory broke an 11-race losing streak for the 6-year-old gelded son of Bluegrass Cat trained by Reade Baker, who last won in 2013's Highlander, when the race was taken off the turf.
"It's amazing how this turf course can get so fast after all the rain we've had," Baker said. "It's absolutely amazing to go that fast, but he's a gutsy horse."
The winner, off at 17-1 odds under Alan Garcia, sat just off early leader and even-money favorite Something Extra—who set fractions of :22.45 and :44.70 through a half-mile—then drove clear in the stretch and held off a late drive from Katie's Eyes to win by a neck.
"He broke good and was in a nice spot," Garcia said. "(The pace) never slowed down. My horse kept on going running and galloped out great. I can't say anything (more) than I had the best horse in the race today."
Go Blue Or Go Home paid $36.60, $12.70, and $6.90 across the board. Katie's Eyes delivered $4.50 and $3.90, while Mosler, 1 1/4 lengths back in third, brought $4.80 to show.
Bred in Virginia by Morgan's Ford Farm and WinStar Farm, out of the Lion Cavern mare Go Baby Go, has a 6-2-3 record from 19 career starts, with earnings of $480,092.
Something Extra faded to fourth, followed by Sharp Sensation, Shrinking Violet, and Reflector to complete the order of finish.