Highway Star Closes for Distaff Handicap Win

Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Highway Star got back to her winning ways April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack with a half-length victory over Indulgent in the $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3).

Under jockey Angel Arroyo, Highway Star settled along the rail in third, as Kelsocait and Clipthecouponannie battled through an opening quarter in :22.46 and the half in :45.16. Arroyo guided the 4-year-old Girolamo   filly wide into the stretch as Indulgent, a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Frosted  , overtook the pacesetters. Highway Star was put under a drive and hooked up with Indulgent in the stretch and dug in for the win, completing the seven-furlong sprint in 1:22.25.

Highway Star returned $12.60, 46.20, and $3.70 across the board. 

"She was really comfortable," Arroyo said. "I broke and got a good trip, and stayed behind the speed. In the stretch, when she switched leads, she went great. She loves seven furlongs."

Highway Star, winner of the grade 3 Go For Wand on the Aqueduct main track in December, finished fourth in her first start of the year in the Ladies Handicap over the inner track in January. The New York-bred improved her record to six wins and a third from nine starts, with earnings of $464,000.

"We're happy," said winning trainer Rodrigo Ubillo. "She's a nice filly, I was just hoping they'd go fast up front, but she can adapt to any pace scenario really. It certainly helped they went fast and she was able to wear them down. Her last race, she was in heat and maybe she didn't like the smaller track, but we took our time. We know her ability and took her time to bring her back and you see the result."

Clipthecouponannie was another two lengths back in third, followed by Kelsocait, Carrumba, and Tale for Ruby to round out the order of finish.