Since impressing on debut in maiden special weight company at Churchill Downs last November, Halina's Forte has spent her last two starts in stakes races, earning placings in both the Fern Creek S. and finishing off 2023 as the beaten favorite at Fair Grounds in the Letellier Memorial S. Dec. 23. Racing in New York for the first time Saturday, the 2-1 top choice broke quickly was out outsprinted by a trio of runners to her inside. Relegated to a wide fourth as the leaders opened up a gap back to her, Halina's Forte began a sustained bid midway around the far turn, reeled in pacesetter Ghalia Princess from three wide and drove past with a sixteenth to run to pick her first stakes win.
“She broke very well,” said winning rider Eric Cancel. “I wasn't scared of what position I could get with her. I just wanted to have a clean trip–I didn't have any trouble with her. She had a little trouble last time when she ran, so I think that really cost her a lot. But today, that wasn't the case. I just kept in the clear and once I started asking her, she just started picking it up.”
A third stakes winner from the first crop of Mitole, Halina's Forte is a half-sister to the dam of SW/MGSP Whateverybodywants (Giant Oak) and out of a half to GSW/GISP sire Astrology (A.P. Indy) and MGSW Lunerpal (Successful Appeal). Lunarlady has not produced a foal since Halina's Forte and was not reported bred for this year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#4 HALINA's FORTE ($6.20) wins the $100,000 Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct. The three-year-old filly by @SpendthriftFarm's Mitole gets her first stakes score for trainer Philip Bauer with @Ericcancel85 aboard. pic.twitter.com/SFYTNPkUt9
— TVG (@TVG) February 17, 2024
RUTHLESS S., $100,000, Aqueduct, 2-17, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:26.26, gd.
1–HALINA'S FORTE, 118, f, 3, by Mitole
1st Dam: Lunarlady (SW), by Yes It's True
2nd Dam: Quiet Eclipse, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: June Gift, by Hold Your Peace
($130,000 Ylg '22 OBSWIN; $250,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL).
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Rigney Racing, LLC; B-Bill & Corinne
Heilegbrodt & A.F.& B. Vanlangendonck (FL); T-Philip A. Bauer;
J-Eric Cancel. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $149,900.
2–Ghalia Princess, 118, f, 3, American Pharoah–Ghalia, by
Medaglia d'Oro. ($575,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK
TYPE. O-Sumaya U.S. Stable; B-International Equities Holding,
Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $20,000.
3–Value Area, 118, f, 3, More Than Ready–Her Smile, by
Include. ($210,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners and Gary F. Lewin; B-KatieRich Farms
(KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2HF, 10. Odds: 2.10, 2.25, 7.60.
Also Ran: Low Society, Reconcile, Tiarella, Most of All.
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