Honey Bunny Streaks to Winning Colors Score
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Photo: Coady Photography
Honey Bunny gallops to victory beneath the Twin Spires in the Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs
A jump in class to graded stakes company wasn't an issue for the streaking 5-year-old mare Honey Bunny, who rallied past Astrollinthepark and pacesetter Upset Brewing in deep stretch May 25 to win the $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The 1 1/2-length victory marked the fifth win in a row for the daughter of Tapizar who sprinted six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.99 under jockey Tyler Baze.
Upset Brewing and a chasing Classy Act made all the early running and led the field of 12 fillies and mares through opening fractions of :21.46, :44.44, and :56.66 as Honey Bunny raced in the clear from the outside near the back.
Around the turn for home, the John Ortiz trainee began to pick off rivals five wide and moved into fifth position with a furlong to run as Upset Brewing tried to hold off a bid from Astrollinthepark. The fast pace took its toll on the frontrunners, and Honey Bunny dove past and proved best of all for her first graded stakes score.
"She is such a classy mare," Baze said. "She came into this race in great shape by John and his team. She simply knows how to find the winner's circle. It really doesn't matter what level of competition. We sort of let the speed go today, and it set up perfect for us to close late."
Sent off as the 3-1 favorite, Honey Bunny paid $8.80, $5, and $4.20. She races for Mark Moore's Hooties Racing, William Simon's WSS Racing, and Brent Gasaway's 4G Racing.
Astrollinthepark earned the place by a neck, and Upset Brewing completed the trifecta.
Honey Bunny improved her record to 14-5-4 in 31 starts, with earnings of $417,145. She was claimed by her connections for $16,000 on April 8, 2018, at Oaklawn Park. Since then, she's won eight of 14 starts and $238,550, including last year's $50,000 Prairie Rose Stakes at Prairie Meadows.
"It's so thrilling to win this stakes race for these owners," Ortiz said. "When we claimed her, we thought she would be pretty special. Now five wins in a row, and this one in the Winning Colors, really proved she's the real deal. This is a huge win for our stable."
Bred in Kentucky by Frederick M. Allor and Michael T. Barnett, Honey Bunny is out of the Storm Cat mare Sennockian Storm, who also produced Appleton Stakes (G3T) winner Dr. Edgar. Honey Bunny was consigned to the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Blackburn Farm and was purchased by Martin Racing Stable for $82,000. The last reported foal out of her dam is a 2018 daughter of Ordained named Stormy Sermon.