Lull sets fast pace and holds off Res Ipsa in Honey Fox

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s homebred Lull, making her first start finishing fifth in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar in November, set a fast pace and had just enough at the finish to hold off Res Ipsa and win Saturday’s $250,000 Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Florida Derby Day.

A 4-year-old daughter of War Front trained by Christophe Clement and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Lull went to the front and set fractions of :22.44, :45.06 and 1:08.56 while being chased around the first turn and backstretch by Stormy Victoria and Conquest Hardcandy. Entering the stretch, Ortiz and Lull opened up a two-length advantage and were just able to hold off Res Ipsa, who closed from last, by a nose.

The winning time was 1:33.14 over a firm 1 1/16 mile course.

Trainer Christophe Clement (Lull): “Jose is a great rider, that’s why he rides so much for us. We were a touch worried because it was her first time back, but we knew she was big enough to win. She’s top class, six, seven furlongs, a mile is probably her best. She’s a wonderful filly to be around. Belmont day is definitely on our radar for her.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz (Lull): “Christopher (Clement) told me she has speed and just not to take a big hold and if she wants to be there [on the lead], let her be there. We were expecting softer fractions than that, but she was going fast but very relaxed. That was important in getting home.