Jordan’s Henny pulls 50-1 upset in Hurricane Bertie Stakes

By Christine Oser 

Jordan’s Henny picked up her first stakes victory -- and did so with a 50-1 shocker -- in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes, denying Curlin’s Approval of a repeat from last year’s victory at Gulfstream Park ahead of the day’s main feature, the 2018 Pegasus World Cup.

“She is quite a prize,” trainer Michael Tomlinson said. “She’s come off a layoff, she’s had a hard campaign last year. We freshened her and the owners let us do what we needed to do. Everyone discounted her, but this filly has a lot of class and we’re just thrilled to death with the outcome of today. Tyler [Gaffalione] and I discussed the amount of speed in the race and he did such a wonderful job and we’re just tickled to death for everyone involved.”

Curlin’s Approval, the 8-5 favorite with seven wins at Gulfstream, was forwardly placed for the seven-furlong race while Jordan’s Henny broke second to last under Tyler Gaffalione. Apologynotaccepted led the first half-mile with fractions of :22.63 and :45.72 ahead of Spice Lady, Curlin’s Approval, Bodacious Babe, Moonlit Promise, Magalie and Shar Ran. It was a few more lengths back to Rich Mommy, Nonna Mela, Money Or Love, Jordan’s Henny and Marley’s Freedom.

Curlin’s Approval swung four wide to find a clear lane in the stretch, hitting three-quarters in 1:10.40 and passed Moonlit Promises, Spice Lady and Bodacious Babe. Tucked behind the favorite was Jordan’s Henny, who had Rich Mommy glued to her outside. Curlin’s Approval looked like she would get the job done, but Gaffalione finally found an opening and burst through, besting Curlin’s Approval by three-quarters of a length.

“The filly broke well today. She put herself in a real nice spot and was relaxed back there,” said Gaffalione. “When I picked her up at the three-eighths pole, she started giving me more down the lane, had a big stride and was all horse today.

“Hats off to Mike. He did a great job and it’s always a pleasure to ride for him.”

Rich Mommy got up for third, with Moonlit Promise, Bodacious Babe, Marley’s Freedom, Spice Lady, Nonna Mela, Apologynotaccepted, Magalie, Shar Ran and Money Or Love completing the order of finish.

Jordan’s Henny stopped the clock in 1:23.68, returning $120, $24 and $10.80.

In 2017, Jordan’s Henny ran second and third respectively in the Grade 2 Davona Dale and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks before finishing twelfth in the Kentucky Oaks. A 4-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes, the Hurricane Bertie gave Ervine Woolsey’s and Ralph Kinder’s homebred her third win in 15 starts, with earnings of $262,596.

“If you look at her form, she’s got back class all the way,” Tomlinson said. “She ran very competitive here last year and she had just been working so well and so easy, doing everything we asked her to do. What the owners and I talked about whether we could find an allowance race or running her here, we opted to run her here at Gulfstream and I’ll be the first to tell you my heart wanted to run here, but the trainer instinct said to give her an easier race to start with, but it’s worked out and it’s been a great ride with this filly.”