Race schedule forming for Havre de Grace

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Owner Rick Porter and trainer Larry Jones are formulating a schedule of upcoming races for reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace. The five-year-old mare began the year last week with a decisive win in the $150,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course.

"Larry and I have been trying to set up a schedule for Havre de Grace for the next couple races or more," Porter said. "We have decided that we would like to run and defend her title in The Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 13th. We are no longer considering the Oaklawn Handicap. We are not looking for a gift in weights from Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom but will only run if we think they have weighted the race fairly.

"We don't want to be demanding or seem to be unsportmanship like. In the event we do not run in Arkansas in The Apple Blossom, we will run at Churchill Downs in The La Troienne Stake. Our next stop will be the Ogden Phipps Handicap on May 28th at Belmont. We will then look for a race in June and plan on running in The Delaware Handicap in July. That is probably further than we should plan but we have the next race firmly decided. It will either be The La Troienne Stake or The Apple Blossom.

"Larry is heading to Kentucky to stable for April, May and June so I know which one he is hoping for. Personally, if all is fair, I would like to defend our title in The Apple Blossom. Unfortunately, we won't be able to make a decision until early April. We are going to train at Oaklawn after The Fair Grounds close and decide by April 7th."

In her career Havre de Grace has earned more than $2.5 million with nine wins in 16 starts.