Glencrest Farm’s HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) was content to race in fourth
for the majority of Monday’s $109,200
Glens Falls H. (G3) at Saratoga before
slipping up the rail in the final furlong to record a neck victory under John
Velazquez. The Todd Pletcher-trained filly stopped the clock in 2:14 2/5 for the
1 3/8-mile firm turf test, returning $6.60, $3 and $2.40.
The recipient of a ground-saving trip on the rail, Honey Ryder sat just off
the pace set by Love Match (Partner’s Hero), who got the opening quarter in :25,
the half-mile in :49 1/5, six furlongs in 1:14 1/5 and a mile in 1:38 1/5. Love
Match was still the leader after 10 furlongs in 2:02 3/5, but Honey Ryder began
to inch closer and the late runners began to mount their closing bids. Honey Ryder found a seam on the inside as post-time favorite Film
Maker (Dynaformer) began to pick off horses on the outside, and those two surged
to the wire with a game Banyu Dewi (Ger) (Poliglote [GB]) between them. At the
wire, Honey Ryder was a neck clear of Film Maker, with Banyu Dewi valiantly
holding third after pressing the pace throughout.
Film Maker paid $2.70 and $2.10 while completing the $12.40 exacta, and Banyu
Dewi returned $2.80 on the bottom of the $37.40 trifecta. Next came A Lulu Ofa
Menifee (Menifee), Love Match and Theatre R.N. (Theatrical [Ire]). Broad Hopes
(Broad Brush) was scratched.
Bred in the Bluegrass State by Wimborne Farm, Honey Ryder is out of the
Affirmed mare Cuando Quiere and is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Cuando Puede
(Lord at War [Arg]). The gray miss also counts the unraced two-year-old Gray
Mountain as a full brother and an unnamed yearling colt by War Chant as a
half-brother. She brought $70,000 at the 2001 Wimborne Farm dispersal.
Honey Ryder adds this win to victories in the Orchid H. (G2), The Very One H.
(G3), Robert G. Dick Memorial Breeders’ Cup H. and Princess Mora S. Her line now
reads 19-7-1-6 with $549,850 in earnings.