Havre de Grace in high spirits at Keeneland

By: SPORTS NETWORK

 

Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - Top rated thoroughbred Havre de Grace is less than a week away from taking to the track for a timed workout ahead of this year's Breeders' Cup. Owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm, the four-year-old filly is currently stabled at Keeneland with trainer Larry Jones.

"I have been communicating with Larry at least once a day since he arrived at Keeneland," Porter noted Thursday on the farm's website. "He continues to be thrilled with Havre de Grace and the way she is training. She has been coming off the track the last few days bucking and playing which is unusual for her. She is normally very laid back. She is feeling terrific and eating even better. Larry decided to just have her walk the shedrow today because it is cold and rainy."

Havre de Grace, in first-place on the NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll, is likely to have a workout at Keeneland on Monday, October 24. That would be 11 days prior to the Ladies' Classic at Churchill Downs and 12 before the Breeders' Cup Classic.

She defeated colts and geldings in the Woodward Handicap at Saratoga in early September and came back on Saturday, October 1 at Belmont Park to demolished other females in the Beldame Stakes by more than eight-lengths.

Porter's horse also won the Azeri, Apple Blossom and Obeah Stakes this season. Her only blemish was a second to Blind Luck by a nose in the Delaware Handicap in July. While Havre de Grace has won both starts since the loss Blind Luck failed to fire in the Lady's Secret on October 1 and was eased down the stretch. Blind Luck will not start in the Breeders' Cup.

Havre de Grace has earned $1,323,000 this year and nearly $2.2 million in her career.

Porter also reported that 2009 Louisiana Derby champ Friesan Fire will stand at Country Life Farms in Maryland. The farm is owned by Josh and Michael Pons.

The five-year-old has not won since claiming last year's Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds. He was sixth this past July in the R. R. M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park after finishing seventh in Monmouth Park's Salvator Mile.

Friesian Fire earned $679,356 in 18 career starts with five victories.