Although the $194,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) is a prep for the Ballerina Handicap (G1) on August 24, this top-level test could be a bit of a stretch for this fast horse. Wind of Soul .
But what about the honorable lady’s six furlongs?
That was perfect for Miller Racing’s Florida-born Spirit Wind and renowned rider Mike Smith as they controlled the early pace and then held off a late effort by accede to win by three-quarters of a length in the broodmare and broodmare sprint on the main track on July 24 at Saratoga Race Track.
“Seven (furlongs) tested her,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “It was a great performance. (At) six furlongs, I thought she was as good as anyone. Unfortunately, most races are seven furlongs for mares, so that was unfortunate for her.”
Spirit Wind added some travel points to Smith’s account, but they were also worthwhile trips in terms of racing.
“Whenever Saffie calls, you don’t have to ask why. You just get on the plane,” Smith said.
He left his California base on May 27 for Texas and was rewarded with a decisive victory in the Memorial Day Sprint Stakes at Lone Star Park.
On Wednesday, his cross-country flight earned him a second-place win in a small plane. Hurricane Bahamas who won 7 of his 12 starts with 2 second places and 1 third place.
She only had two unsuccessful appearances?
One of those was at seven furlongs on May 4 in the Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) when she dropped to sixth place.
Spirit Wind benefited from comfortable odds to claim his first Class 2 win on Wednesday.
“I was warming her up and she just exuded confidence,” Smith said. “I was like, ‘I’m not going to hold her off the lead today!’ That’s definitely all I did, I just kept the weight on her back. Saffie and his team did a great job and I just made sure she kept running.”
Spirit Wind was able to build a 1 1/2 length lead after splits of :22.22 and :45.33, giving her enough speed to beat the two favorites. Obviously insane (5-2) and Munny Gold (3-2) kept pace until midway through the match.
That’s when Juddmonte’s Accede charged into the race from fourth, gaining an advantage late in the race but she couldn’t catch Spirit Wind ($12).
Final time is 1:10.36.
“She had a pretty easy lead today. She was able to hang on and get a big win on her record,” Joseph said.
Accede, a country girl of Into mischief trained by Chad Brown, finished second by a half-length to Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Jarret Prussin’s Clearly Unhinged, an Into Mischief mare trained by Steve Asmussen.
Bred by Jacks or Better Farm in Florida, Spirit Wind, a $555,090-earning horse, is the eighth of 12 foals from Psalm ONE Great of course The mare has sired eight winners including a winner in Sing praises (Hear No Evil). Her newest foal is a yearling. Red wine pony.
Videotapes: Dear Ms. H. (G2)
