Holy Helena Returns to Winning Form in The Very One
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
Holy Helena edges Ickymasho by a head to win The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park
It was down to the wire March 2 for Stronach Stables' homebred Holy Helena, who won by a head and defended her title in the $150,000 Very One Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, the 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper broke well under Irad Ortiz Jr. for the 1 3/16-mile test, settling in third behind leader Ickymasho and Lafta.
Tracking the pace on the outside, Holy Helena saved ground on the far turn as Ickymasho led the way through fractions of :23.89, :49.31, and 1:13.81 through six furlongs.
Running just off the inside rail, Holy Helena inched forward and pulled to within a head of Lafta as they entered the final turn. Asked for more by Ortiz at the quarter pole, Holy Helena moved out into the two path and put away Lafta before driving hard to the front to challenge Ickymasho.
Neck and neck in deep stretch, Holy Helena dug in with renewed effort and refused to yield, beating Ickymasho by a head in a final time of 1:54.20 over firm turf.
"She had only run four weeks ago a mile and a half on soft turf, but she's a good doer, especially for a filly," said Jerkens. "She had three decent works in between her last race, and she handled it well. I think she looks terrific physically, so I was very confident today, I really was."
The victory snapped a six-race losing streak that had plagued the Queen's Plate Stakes winner since her score in the May 5 Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park. She entered Saturday's race off a sixth-place finish in the Jan. 26 La Prevoyante (G3T) at Gulfstream.
"Last time she broke a step slow, and we were too far back," said Ortiz, the mare's regular rider. "So we tried to break good and get good position. She was closer today, and when I asked her to go, she was there. We were going slow today—the pace was very slow. We were close to the lead. I tried to hold my position. With the slow pace, I turned her loose a little earlier because it's hard to catch some horses when they go that slow."
Bred in Ontario by the Stronachs' Adena Springs out of the winning Holy Bull mare Holy Grace, Holy Helena has a 7-3-2 record from 16 starts, with $1,175,578 in earnings.