Havre de Grace (horse)
Encyclopedia
Havre de Grace is an American
Thoroughbred
Filly
Racehorse. She is owned by Fox Hill Farms and trained by J. Larry Jones
. Her sire is the 2005 American Horse of the Year, Saint Liam
. Her dam is the mare, Easter Bunnette, a daughter of Carson City. Her name derives from the city
of Havre de Grace, Maryland
.
Based at Delaware Park
in Stanton, Delaware
, Havre de Grace made her career debut under the care of trainer, Anthony W. Dutrow
, finishing third in a one-mile maiden race for two-year-old fillies on August 24. She went on to break her maiden in her second start on September 30, a one-mile and 70 yards maiden event. She was then rested up for her three-year-old campaign in 2010.
2010
Havre de Grace made the first start of her three-year-old campaign by winning a one-mile allowance race at Delaware Park on May 10. She then finished second in the ungraded Go For Wand Stakes on June 5 in preparation for the July 10 Delaware Oaks
where she was beaten a nose while finishing second to Blind Luck
in what would be the first of several mettings between the two fillies. She finished second yet again to Blind Luck, this time by a neck in her first start away from her hometrack in the August 21 Alabama Stakes
at Saratoga Race Course
in Saratoga Springs, New York
before finally besting her newfound rival by the same margin in the October 2 Cotillion Handicap
at Parx Racing and Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. She ended her three-year-old campaign with a third-place finish behind both Unrivaled Belle
and Blind Luck in the November 5 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs
in Louisville, Kentucky
. This was her first start against older fillies and mares. Afterwards, she was rested for her four-year-old campaign in 2011.
2011
Under the care of her new trainer, J. Larry Jones
, Havre de Grace made her four-year-old debut in the Azeri Stakes on March 19 at Oaklawn Park
in Hot Springs, Arkansas
with an emphatic victory over her archrival, Blind Luck. This was the fifth straight meeting between the two fillies. She then garnered her first Grade 1 victory with a win in the April 15 Apple Blossom Handicap
, also at Oaklawn. After her win in the Apple Blossom, Havre de Grace returned to her hometrack, Delaware Park and scored an easy victory in the Obeah Stakes
. She then faced off with her rival, Blind Luck for the sixth time in the July 16 Delaware Handicap
, finishing second by a nose after a prolonged stretch battle. After her tough loss in the "Del Cap", the decision was made that Havre de Grace would make her first start against male horses in the historic Woodward Stakes
on September 3 at Saratoga. She was sent off as the heavy favorite and won impressively, joining the 2009 American Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra
in becoming only the second female horse to win the race. Her Woodward victory was followed by a dominating performance in the October 1 Beldame Stakes
at Belmont Park
in Elmont, New York
, in which she scored by 8 1/4 lengths over eventual Ladies' Classic winner Royal Delta.Havre de Grace closed out her 2011 campaign in the Breeders' Cup Classic
on November 5, 2011 at Churchill Downs where she was once again pitted against male horses. However, she fell short in her attempt to join Zenyatta
in becoming only the second female racehorse to win the richest horse race in North America
, finishing a game fourth behind the winner, Drosselmeyer
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
Filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Racehorse. She is owned by Fox Hill Farms and trained by J. Larry Jones
J. Larry Jones
J. Larry Jones is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. A former commercial farmer, he embarked on a career as a professional trainer in 1982....
. Her sire is the 2005 American Horse of the Year, Saint Liam
Saint Liam
Saint Liam was an American thoroughbred racehorse who was voted 2005 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year honors....
. Her dam is the mare, Easter Bunnette, a daughter of Carson City. Her name derives from the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which was first named Le Havre de Grâce, meaning in French "Harbor of Grace." As...
.
Racing Career
2009Based at Delaware Park
Delaware Park
Delaware Park-Front Park System is a historic park system and national historic district located in the northern and western sections of Buffalo in Erie County, New York...
in Stanton, Delaware
Stanton, Delaware
Stanton is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States, near the confluence of the Red Clay and White Clay Creeks. It is located in the southern end of Mill Creek Hundred.-History:...
, Havre de Grace made her career debut under the care of trainer, Anthony W. Dutrow
Anthony W. Dutrow
Anthony W. "Tony" Dutrow is an American horse trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing.The eldest of three brothers involved in Thoroughbred racing, he is the son of the late well-known Maryland trainer Richard E. Dutrow, Sr...
, finishing third in a one-mile maiden race for two-year-old fillies on August 24. She went on to break her maiden in her second start on September 30, a one-mile and 70 yards maiden event. She was then rested up for her three-year-old campaign in 2010.
2010
Havre de Grace made the first start of her three-year-old campaign by winning a one-mile allowance race at Delaware Park on May 10. She then finished second in the ungraded Go For Wand Stakes on June 5 in preparation for the July 10 Delaware Oaks
Delaware Oaks
The Delaware Oaks Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton near Wilmington, Delaware....
where she was beaten a nose while finishing second to Blind Luck
Blind Luck
Blind Luck is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. She is a daughter of Pollard's Vision, winner of the Illinois Derby and the Lone Star Derby, and Lucky One....
in what would be the first of several mettings between the two fillies. She finished second yet again to Blind Luck, this time by a neck in her first start away from her hometrack in the August 21 Alabama Stakes
Alabama Stakes
The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $500,000...
at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
in Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
before finally besting her newfound rival by the same margin in the October 2 Cotillion Handicap
Cotillion Handicap
The F. Eugene Dixon, Jr. Cotillion Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Parx Racing and Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Since 2010, it has been raced on the first Saturday in October as a prelude to the annual Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships...
at Parx Racing and Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. She ended her three-year-old campaign with a third-place finish behind both Unrivaled Belle
Unrivaled Belle
Unrivaled Belle is a gray/roan American Thoroughbred racehorse owned and bred in Kentucky by Gary Seidler & Peter Vegso. She is a daughter of America's champion sire and champion racehorse Unbridled's Song, a descendant of the very influential sire, Mr...
and Blind Luck in the November 5 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. This was her first start against older fillies and mares. Afterwards, she was rested for her four-year-old campaign in 2011.
2011
Under the care of her new trainer, J. Larry Jones
J. Larry Jones
J. Larry Jones is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. A former commercial farmer, he embarked on a career as a professional trainer in 1982....
, Havre de Grace made her four-year-old debut in the Azeri Stakes on March 19 at Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn Park is an American thoroughbred racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to The Racing Festival of the South.In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Of the top Ten, Oaklawn was ranked...
in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
with an emphatic victory over her archrival, Blind Luck. This was the fifth straight meeting between the two fillies. She then garnered her first Grade 1 victory with a win in the April 15 Apple Blossom Handicap
Apple Blossom Handicap
The Apple Blossom Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run each year in early April during the Racing Festival of the South at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Grade I race is open to Fillies and Mares, four years old and up...
, also at Oaklawn. After her win in the Apple Blossom, Havre de Grace returned to her hometrack, Delaware Park and scored an easy victory in the Obeah Stakes
Obeah Stakes
The Obeah Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid June at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton, Delaware. A Grade III event open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt at a distance of a mile and an eighth ....
. She then faced off with her rival, Blind Luck for the sixth time in the July 16 Delaware Handicap
Delaware Handicap
The Delaware Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Wilmington, Delaware. The Grade II race is open to filles and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-quarter miles on the dirt....
, finishing second by a nose after a prolonged stretch battle. After her tough loss in the "Del Cap", the decision was made that Havre de Grace would make her first start against male horses in the historic Woodward Stakes
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...
on September 3 at Saratoga. She was sent off as the heavy favorite and won impressively, joining the 2009 American Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra
Rachel Alexandra
Rachel Alexandra is a retired American Thoroughbred filly racehorse and the 2009 Horse of the Year. She is renowned as the May 16, 2009 Preakness Stakes winner, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the first filly to win the race in 85 years history...
in becoming only the second female horse to win the race. Her Woodward victory was followed by a dominating performance in the October 1 Beldame Stakes
Beldame Stakes
The Beldame Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960...
at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in Elmont, New York
Elmont, New York
Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City...
, in which she scored by 8 1/4 lengths over eventual Ladies' Classic winner Royal Delta.Havre de Grace closed out her 2011 campaign in the Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
on November 5, 2011 at Churchill Downs where she was once again pitted against male horses. However, she fell short in her attempt to join Zenyatta
Zenyatta
Zenyatta is a retired American champion Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of 19 consecutive races in a 20-race career and American record-holder for consecutive victories without defeat in unrestricted races....
in becoming only the second female racehorse to win the richest horse race in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, finishing a game fourth behind the winner, Drosselmeyer
Drosselmeyer
Drosselmeyer is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the third leg of the 2010 U.S. Triple Crown series and the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic.-Background:...
.