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Ryder hunts down Safari Queen in Sheepshead Bay The Todd Pletcher-trained HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) was spotting her stablemate Safari Queen (Arg) (Lode) four pounds, a recency edge and a sizeable head start in Saturday's $150,000 Sheepshead Bay H. (G2), but none of that mattered to the gray. Making her first start since returning from Dubai, Honey Ryder unleashed a devastating stretch run to reel in Safari Queen and successfully defend her title in the grassy 1 3/8-mile test. The Glencrest Farm colorbearer stopped the teletimer in 2:13 on Belmont Park's firm inner turf with Garrett Gomez in the irons. "I've always thought the shipping back from Dubai thing has always been overrated," Pletcher said. "The horses that we've brought back have always come back in good form. This filly came back and could have run a month ago. I was hoping for a dead-heat, though." Racing without blinkers for the first time since her juvenile days, Honey Ryder settled near the back of the pack in the early going. Up front, Moon Dolly (GB) (Kris S.) carved out splits of :23 3/5, :48 3/5, 1:13 2/5 and 1:38 2/5 while pressed by Cliffrose (Ger) (Monsun). Safari Queen was also in close attendance in third on the outside, and she launched her bid turning for home. Safari Queen opened up a two-length lead in midstretch, but Honey Ryder was just beginning to unwind after circling most of the field on the turn. It was clear that Pletcher would dominate the finish, but it wasn't immediately apparent which of his mares would prevail. The chestnut Safari Queen knuckled down as Honey Ryder came charging, and a photo-finish seemed inevitable. The gray's momentum was too powerful for that, however, and Honey Ryder surged ahead by a length at the wire. Sent off as the even-money favorite, the 123-pound highweight returned $4.30, $2.40 and $2.20. Safari Queen, the close second choice at 6-5, gave back $2.40 and $2.10 while ending the $7.30 Pletcher exacta. The 16-1 Hostess (Chester House) got up for third, another three-quarters of a length back, to pay $4.40 and round out the $33.40 trifecta (5-7-4). Next came La Dolce Vita (Quiet American), Wait It Out (Swain [Ire]), Cliffrose and Moon Dolly. Barancella (Fr) (Acatenango) and Factual Contender (Thunder Puddles) were withdrawn. With this 11th stakes triumph to her credit, Honey Ryder improved her record to 30-13-2-8 with a bankroll worth $2,193,310. Grade 2-placed as a three-year-old, she blossomed at four in 2005, racking up wins in the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), Orchid H. (G2), Glens Falls H. (G3), The Very One H. (G3) (setting a new Gulfstream course record of 2:11 3/5 for 1 3/8 miles on firm turf) and the Robert G. Dick Memorial Breeders' Cup H. In 2006, she captured the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1), her second straight Orchid (this time a Grade 3) and Dick Memorial, along with her score in the Sheepshead Bay. Honey Ryder closed out her campaign with an honorable third to Ouija Board (GB) in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). She started 2007 by tackling males, just missing when runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf S. (G1), but she didn't perform as well when 11th in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1). Bred in Kentucky by Wimborne Farm, Honey Ryder was sold as a yearling for $70,000 at the Wimborne dispersal in July 2002. Produced by the Affirmed mare Cuando Quiere, she is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Cuando Puede (Lord at War [Arg]), herself the dam of 2005 Go for Gin S. winner Spanish Mission (Coronado's Quest); three-time stakes victress and multiple Grade 2-placed Cuando (Lord at War [Arg]); and Grade 3-placed Cuanto Es (Exbourne). Cuando Quiere has since produced an unnamed yearling filly by A.P. Indy. This is the family of 1972 Kentucky Oaks (G2) heroine Sun and Snow (*Hawaii).
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