Hillhouse High holds off stablemate Mokat in Royal Heroine

Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Hillhouse High overtook pacesetter Juno inside the sixteenth pole and held off her late charging stablemate Mokat to win Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes by a half length.Trained by Richard Baltas, Hillhouse High negotiated one mile on turf in 1:33.61.

Off at 7-1 in a field of seven older fillies and mares, Hillhouse High paid $16.80, $8.40 and $6.20.A 6-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Exchange Rate, Hillhouse High, who is owned by Golden Eagle Farm Investment, LP, improved her overall mark to 23-4-6-6.With the winner’s share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $441,113.

Last throughout, long striding Mokat shifted to the middle of the track a furlong out and just missed as she was surging late under Rafael Bejarano while finishing a neck in front of Juno.Off at 10-1, Mokat paid $10.20 and $7.40.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Brazilian-bred Juno was sent from her rail post and ended up third, three quarter of a length in front of favored Harmonize, who had no apparent excuses.Off at 10-1, Juno paid $7.60 to show.