Highway Star Impressive in NY Stallion Series Stakes

Chester and Mary Broman's grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed Highway Star was back in the winner's circle Nov. 11 after putting away a field of 11 in the Staten Island Division of the $125,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 5-year-old daughter of Girolamo has only won one other minor stakes this year and finished second in three straight starts over the summer, including a one-length defeat in the Ruffian Stakes (G2). She most recently finished eighth in the Nov. 3 Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) for trainer Rodrigo Ubillo.

After a delayed start with Frostie Anne refusing to load, the gate crew was able to persuade the Frost Giant  mare into post 10, and field got off to an even start. Frosty Margarita flashed early speed from the outside post, but it was longshot Bluegrass Flag who took the field through a half-mile in fractions of :22.72 and :46.32 before she faded in the stretch.

Highway Star was well covered in the back of the field and in seventh at the half-mile mark. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. found the perfect path at the top of the turn and made an eye-catching move into fourth. Heading into the stretch the pair surged to the lead with an impressive turn of foot, which carried them to a four-length victory.

"I had never ridden her before, but when I asked, she gave me a good kick into the turn and was traveling really nice," Ortiz said. "I couldn't see anything with my right eye from the three-eighths pole on, so I had to turn around big time to look with my left eye to watch for the competition. Once I realized I was OK, I saved something (for next time)."

The final time for the seven furlongs on the main track was 1:25.58. Starlite Mission, who raced in third early on, moved up to get second, with Frostie Anne third.

Highway Star, the 1-2 favorite, returned $3.10, $2.60, and $2.20 across the board.

Off just eight days since her Breeders' Cup effort, Highway Star finished Sunday's race like a fresh horse.

"If you don't run, you don't know," Ubillo said about the Breeders' Cup performance. "I think the track had a lot to do with it, and that's why she didn't perform the way I know she can run.

"It's like she didn't run in her last race. It sounds crazy that she didn't run at the Breeders' Cup. She got beat five lengths, but it wasn't the Highway Star that I know. She wasn't all there. Coming back here after the race, it felt like she didn't run. She was jumping and kicking, and this race was coming up. I decided to enter and had a few days. We could scratch the morning of ... but it worked out good, and I can sleep good tonight."

Video: New York Stallion Series S. (BT)