Honor Way continues strong form with win in Garland of Roses

The 6-year-old Caleb’s Posse bay mare scored back-to-back victories for the first time in her 41-race career, arriving at the Garland of Roses off a 4 1/2-length victory in the Nov. 1 Pumpkin Pie over sloppy going at Belmont Park for trainer Charlton Baker.

Honor Way broke cleanly from the gate as stakes winner Honey I’m Good established her usual front-running position through an opening quarter mile in 22.82 seconds with Pacific Gale tracking just to her outside in second on the fast main track. 

Around the far turn, Honor Way inched her way into contention under jockey Jose Lezcano as Honey I’m Good was still the one to catch. Honor Way collared her foe just inside the 16th pole and drew away in a final time of 1:11.09. 

Honey I’m Good held second by a neck over Pacific Gale. Saguaro Row, Bridlewood Cat and Lady Ninja completed the order of finish. Hay Mamaluke was scratched. 

Honor Way, who boasts a reliable 10: 4-3-2 record on the year, upped her lifetime earnings to $688,892 through a 41: 13-8-7 overall record. 

The win marked a fifth stakes victory of the meet for Lezcano. 

“She broke OK but she's the type of filly that's a grinder. At the 5/16, I asked her to pick it up and she was moving really good,” Lezcano said. “I had so much horse at the quarter-pole. When I asked her, she really took off. I looked in front of me and I could see the other horses coming back to me and my filly was really getting into stride.”

Baker said he was a little concerned at the top of the stretch that his mare would come up a little short of victory. 

“Turning for home, I thought he might be a little busier than he was, but he rode her really confidently down the lane,” Baker said. “She's at the top of her game right now. Since Saratoga, she's been unbelievable. She got that little break after the pandemic.”

Live racing resumes Thursday for opening day of the winter meet at Aqueduct with a nine-race card. First post is 12:20 p.m. ET.