Bridgehampton Wires Rivals in My Juliet

As the gate opened, Bridgehampton got a great start under jockey Frankie Pennington and was immediately in front. She charged through the opening quarter mile in the six furlong test in 22.56 and led by a length and a half with a half mile to run. She had taken some early outside pressure from long shot Ms. Cruisin’ but turned her away and headed to the far turn with a clear lead. The 8-5 race favorite, Miss D’Oro, loomed a threat. She had established excellent position in behind the two front runners and then quickly took over second when Ms. Cruisin’ began to drop back. Able now to ease to the outside with three furlongs to run, Miss D’Oro now had a clean shot at Bridgehampton as the two leaders rounded the far turn and approached the top of the stretch.

Miss D’Oro came up within a length of Bridgehampton as they passed the quarter pole, the half run in 44.68, but that was as close as she got. Bridgehampton still had another gear and when she cut the corner turning for home, she sprinted away again and opened a two length lead as the raced inside the final furlong. She continued to pull away in the final eighth of a mile and was well clear when they hit the wire, winning by just over five lengths.

Owned by Barry Schwartz and trained by Michael Hushion, Bridgehampton went off as a slight second choice in the wagering and paid $5.40, 3.80, and 3.00. Ms. Cruisin’ (20-1) put in a very game effort to run second. She forced the pace early on, actually fell back to fourth coming to the quarter pole, but fought back to pass two rivals in the stretch to get place money and pay 12.60 and 5.20. Miss D’Oro had a good trip but simply had nothing left in the final furlong, weakening late to finish third. She paid $2.60 to show.

 

The final time over a track labeled fast was 1:10.00.