Havre de Grace to train at Keeneland

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Stanton, DE (Sports Network) - Leading thoroughbred Havre de Grace is on her way to Kentucky to train for the Breeders' Cup. The four-year-old filly boarded a van Monday morning headed for Keeneland in Lexington.

Owner Rick Porter noted on his farm's website that the top rated horse mostly likely will start in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic versus males at Churchill Downs.

"Larry (trainer Larry Jones) and I will talk some more today but we are 99% sure that we will run in the Classic," Porter said. "She belongs there and ranks up with the top horses Tizway and Uncle Mo. This is going to be a deep field so we know the above horses are not the only tough competition. The big thing is we feel we are very competitive with all the probable participants. Our numbers are as good or better than all of the competition. If she continues to train as she has been, the Classic is the target."

On Saturday at Belmont Park the filly demolished the competition in the Beldame Stakes. She won the 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares by more than eight-lengths.

This year Havre de Grace became just the second female to win the $750,000 Woodward at Saratoga Race Course, joining 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Porter's horse has also won the Azeri, Apple Blossom and Obeah Stakes this season. Her only blemish was a second to Blind Luck in the Delaware Handicap.

The filly has earned $1,323,000 this year and nearly $2.2 million overall.