Impressive Ruffian winner Highway Star might have quick turnaround

Highway Star was in good order coming out of an impressive win in the slop in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian, trainer Rodrigo Ubillo said. The 4-year-old Chester and Mary Broman homebred won her second straight graded stakes start, adding to her victory in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap on April 9.

"She came out of the race great," Ubillo said from his barn on Sunday morning. "She did it against nice horses, she was phenomenal. Beating Bar of Gold; going in, I thought we might be second since she was 5-for-5 [on off tracks], but we're happy and she showed she's pretty good on the mud, too."

Highway Star might have a quick turnaround for the $100,000 Critical Eye for state-breds on May 29 at Belmont Park, Ubillo said. She also could return to graded stakes competition in the Grade 1, $750,000 Ogden Phipps on Belmont Stakes Day Saturday, June 10.

With a 7-0-1 record in 10 career starts, Ubillo said patience was rewarded, as Highway Star did not race until her 3-year-old campaign. She has already registered three graded stakes win, including a nose victory in the 2016 Grade 3 Go for Wand.

"We took our time with her and didn't race her as a 2-year-old, she's coming along quite nicely," Ubillo said. "She's a nice filly and I try to do my job and she does hers in the afternoon."

Highway Star has also shown an ability to win carrying heaver weights, evidenced by her surging past Indulgent in the stretch in the Ruffian despite carrying six extra pounds.

"She carries me around every morning and she's happy, she's bouncing around," Ubillo said with a laugh.

 

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Lael Stable's Hawksmoor was back at Arnaud Delacour's Fair Hills training base Saturday night following her head victory over Dacita in the Grade 3 Beaumont at Belmont Park and has emerged from the race in good shape, Delacour reported Sunday morning.

"She seems fine this morning," he said. "She ate everything and her legs look good. I'm happy with her so far."

The 4-year-old filly by Azamour won her third stakes race over soft or yielding turf off a nearly six-month layoff with a front-running score under Julien Leparoux in the Beaugay, her first U.S. win.

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On Preakness Day, Saturday, May 20, racing fans will be able to enjoy live racing at Belmont Park as well as full-card simulcasting of the day's events at Pimlico Race Course, a Beer & Wing Festival, and other family fun events in the backyard.

The backyard and picnic area will come alive with a variety of fun and exciting activities and games that the entire family can enjoy. Kids can use the playground and enjoy the duck pond, while mom and dad can watch and wager upon the races with numerous televisions and betting windows nearby. There are many picnic tables as well as plenty of food and drink available at concession stands. The state-of-the-art Children's Playground is located in the Backyard area. Kids can swing, climb on monkey bars and play on slides in a safe area that features a rubber floor.

Tickets for the Beer & Wing Festival are available on Ticketmaster.com. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. General admission is $5. General parking is free, with preferred parking available for $3 and the clubhouse lot for $7.