Hillhouse High Gives Baltas Exacta in Royal Heroine

After running third in her last two graded stakes attempts, Golden Eagle Farm's Hillhouse High broke through in the $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) when holding off a late run from Mokat, giving trainer Richard Baltas the 1-2 finish April 8. 

"The main thing was that I thought (Hillhouse High) would get the trip today," Baltas said. "She sat right behind the speed and it just worked out that way. I was really happy with Mokat's race as well. It's unfortunate that she didn't win, but what can you do—they were running against each other. I was watching both horses just hoping we'd get a piece and we ended up running one-two. I'm just grateful for that."

In the mile test on the firm Santa Anita Park turf, the Brazilian-bred Juno and jockey Kent Desormeaux jumped out for the early lead and opened up by six lengths on the backside. Juno set a quick opening half-mile with fractions of :22.56 and :45.67, as Hillhouse High and Lady Valeur raced second and third in the field of seven older fillies and mares.

As six-furlongs went in 1:10.09, Juno slowed and Hillhouse High, under jockey Corey Nakatani, began to close the gap between the frontrunner and rest. Into the stretch, Hillhouse High took control and managed to hold off a late surge from Mokat, who closed from last on the outside to put a neck over Juno for second. Hillhouse High completed the race in 1:33.61, winning by half a length. 

"We had a great trip. She broke really well, was tactically placed, and the inside horse asserted herself with Kent (Desormeaux)," Nakatani said. "I was able to track them and give her a target, which was really good for her. She did the rest. She's a really good filly."

Favored Harmonize finished fourth, another three-quarters of a length behind Juno. Pretty Girl, Prize Exhibit, and Lady Valeur rounded out the field.

Hillhouse High returned 416.80, $8.40, and $6.20 across the board. 

Bred in Kentucky by Runnymeade Farm, the daughter of Exchange Rate last went through the auction ring at the 2015 Keeneland November sale when purchased by Vista Creek Stables for $97,000 out of the Bluewater Sales consignment. 

The 6-year-old mare now boasts a record of 4-6-6- from 23 starts with $441,113 in earnings. She was fourth last time out in the March 10 Wishing Well Stakes, before placing in both an off-turf edition of the grade 3 Buena Vista Stakes and the grade 2 Goldikova Stakes.