Newcomer Homerique Sparkles in Beaugay Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Derbe Glass
Homerique wins the Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park
Making her first start in North America May 11 for owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown, Homerique put in a late-running effort down the center of the Belmont Park inner turf to take the $200,000 Beaugay Stakes (G3T) by a half-length.
Sent off as the heavy favorite in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile test for older fillies and mares, Homerique broke last from the gate under Irad Ortiz Jr. and sat just off the pace.
French-bred Chipolata showed the way from her spot on the rail through relatively slow fractions of :26.87 and :52.86 through the backstretch, stalked by Matty's Magnum to her outside with Homerique's stablemate Competitionofideas tucked in behind the runner-up on the inside.
Chipolata maintained control coming off the turn for home, widening her margin to a length, and dug in. Angled out at the top of the stretch, Homerique was asked for more and responded, driving down the center of the six-horse field to give chase.
Competitionofideas and jockey Joel Rosario moved to challenge from their spot on the rail, and the stablemates flanked the waning Chipolata as they approached the wire. Competitionofideas came up just short.
"For the first time in the country, that was impressive," said Ortiz. "She's a nice filly. She did everything right. There wasn't too much speed or too much pace in the race, so I knew it probably wouldn't a problem with her because even if she doesn't break that good, she was going to be close to the pace because they'll go slow. She finishes (strong). I think when she goes a little longer, she's going to be better."
Chipolata took third, a half-length ahead of Andina Del Sur in fourth. Matty's Magnum and Binti Al Nar completed the order of finish.
"It was a good trip," said Rosario. "I saved ground and went on, but the winner was very good. On paper, there was no speed. That's why I was closer today. She came running at the end, but the other filly was better today."
Bred in Kentucky by Nicky and Francois Drion, Homerique is the second foal out of the Congaree mare Chiquita Picosa. Offered as a weanling at the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, she failed to attain her reserve in the ring and was next offered at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where she fared no better and again went unsold. She was eventually purchased by Laurent Benoit's Broadhurst Agency as a 2-year-old for $81,473 at the 2017 Arqana Breeze-Up Sale.
A 4-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate, Homerique made her first six starts in France for owner Ecurie de Montlahuc and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. She broke her maiden on debut in April 2018 before finishing second next out in the May 1 Prix Penelope (G3) at Saint Cloud. She placed third in the June 17 Prix de Diane Longines (G1) at Chantilly before coming back one start later to win the Prix de Psyche (G3) July 28 at Deauville.
Homerique's only off-the-board finish came in the Sept. 9 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) at ParisLongchamp, where she finished seventh. Her final start in France came one month later in the Oct. 7 Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1), where she took third.
"She ran against the best in Europe," Brant said. "Even when getting in trouble, she was always right there. She's a classy kind of filly that you want to see run."
"We were concerned that she might have been one work shy of a race. Chad didn't want to go into the (June 7) New York Stakes (G2T) fresh going a mile and a quarter, so he decided to use this race, and she overcame it and won. If she comes out of the race in good order and Chad keeps it in his plan, we'll be there.
Homerique has a 3-1-2 record from seven starts and $392,950 in earnings.