Heavenhasmynikki Holds On in Vagrancy Handicap
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Heavenhasmynikki wins the Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park
Ron Paolucci Racing's Heavenhasmynikki led every step of the $200,000 Vagrancy Handicap (G3) May 11 at Belmont Park to break through for her first graded stakes victory. It was the first stakes score against open company for the 4-year-old Majestic Warrior filly, who pulled off a mild upset at 4-1.
Under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Heavenhasmynikki grabbed the lead over 6-5 favorite Separationofpowers and set fractions of :22.58, :45.21, and :1:08.65. Separationofpowers failed to power home as Pacific Gale moved up the rail before switching to Heavenhasmynikki's outside. The winner held on by a neck, completing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.99 over a fast track.
Pacific Gale, Separationofpowers, Dawn the Destroyer, and Holiday Disguise completed the order of finish.
The Vagrancy was also the first Belmont Park stakes victory for trainer Robert Hess Jr.
"The wire came up in time," Hess said. "It was a maiden stakes win for me at Belmont. I've won stakes races at Aqueduct but never here before. To win with Ron Paolucci makes it extra special.
"I felt she had a pace advantage here. I felt we needed every bit of that. She's a nice filly. I think she's on the improve, and hopefully we can run her in New York the rest of the year."
Heavenhasmynikki, a winner in her first two starts, earned her way into the 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) when fourth and third, respectively, in the Forward Gal Stakes (G3) and Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. She ran ninth in the Oaks, but last fall she scored victories in the Diana Stakes at Thistledown and First Lady Stakes at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course. Both wins were against other Ohio-registered horses.
She kicked off the season Jan. 27 in the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) and was entered with Hess for the first time. The chestnut filly picked up her second graded placing, finishing third behind multiple grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou around two turns, then returned as a six-furlong allowance winner April 15 at Mahoning Valley.
In 2016, Heavenhasmynikki was a $150,000 yearling purchase by Loooch Racing from the Langsem Farm consignment to The October Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky fall yearling sale. She's gone on to win half of her 14 starts and has twice finished third. She has $374,980 in earnings.
Langsem Farm bred Heavenhasmynikki in Ohio out of the winning Forest Wildcat mare Floral Park. Heavenhasmynikki is the sixth of eight foals out of her dam. Her half brother Dougs Buddy and half sister Floral Sky, the first two foals out of Floral Park, are both black-type winners with over $200,000 in earnings apiece. Floral Park last produced a yearling colt by Runhappy .