Sheepshead Bay

Dispatched as the 7-5 favorite, Glencrest Farm's HONEY RYDER (Lasting

Approval) confirmed her dominance over the distaff turf division in the East

this season with a one-length score in the $150,000

Sheepshead Bay H. (G2) at Belmont Park on Saturday, avenging her fifth-place

effort in last year's edition. The Todd Pletcher mare finished the 1 3/8 miles

on firm turf in 2:12 4/5 under Garrett Gomez to record her eighth stakes victory

and her first-ever win at Belmont.

Unlike last year's Sheepshead Bay, the winner relaxed kindly along the inside

in the early stages, alternating between third and fourth while tracking the

slow tempo dictated by Noble Stella (Ger) (Monsun) through splits of :24 3/5,

:50, 1:14 2/5 and 1:38 2/5. Turning for home, the pacesetter quickened up,

trying to steal a decisive advantage, but that was when Gomez gave Honey Ryder her cue to

pounce. The five-year-old gray angled to the outside and collared Noble Stella,

edging clear of that rival. Angara (GB) (Alzao) loomed up as though to challenge

in midstretch, but Honey Ryder was in complete command. A stubborn Noble Stella

battled bravely on the rail for second, a neck in front of Angara.

"The difference between this year and last year," Pletcher said, "was that

she was covered up and inside this time. Last year, she was never able to relax.

She's a better mare than she was a year ago."

"The difference between a decent filly and a good filly is the way she ran

today," said Gomez, who was riding her for the first time. "The one time I

really needed her, she was there. That's the sign of a good filly."

The winner returned $4.80, $3.50 and $2.50 while keying exotics of $40.40

(exacta) and $155 (1-4-6 trifecta). Overlooked at nearly 15-1, Noble Stella paid

dividends of $9.80 and $4.50, while the 9-2 Angara gave back $3.70.

It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to Asi Siempre (El Prado [Ire]) in fourth,

trailed by Serendipitous (Pleasant Tap), Latice (Ire) (Inchinor [GB]) and Tisket

a Tasket (Broad Brush). Half Heaven (Regal Classic) was scratched.

Honey Ryder improved her record to 23-10-1-7 with a bankroll worth

$1,245,810. Grade 2-placed as a three-year-old, she blossomed last year at four,

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 her 2006 debut, she was a solid third in the Honey Fox H. (G3) before

delivering a career-best effort to capture her second straight Orchid (this time

a Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park.

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 unraced two-year-old colt named Propaganda (War Chant) and a 2006

filly by A.P. Indy. This is the family of 1972 Kentucky Oaks (G2) heroine Sun

and Snow (*Hawaii).

Pletcher said that he will "keep all of our options open" regarding Honey

Ryder's next start. While she could try to repeat in the Dick Memorial on July

15, she may tackle males in the July 8 United Nations H. (G1) instead.