Chelsea Durand Photo

Holiday Disguise reveals authoritative finish in Broadway

by Najja Thompson

Making her 2019 debut following a lengthy layoff, Holiday Disguise bested a field of eight to earn her first victory since May capturing the Broadway for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up going six furlongs on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Breaking from post 3 at odds of 9-2 with Jose Lezcano aboard, Holiday Disguise trailed in last early as Absatootly set swift fractions of 22.31 seconds for the opening quarter-mile with the half in 45.90, as 4-5 mutuel favorite Pauseforthecause tracked her early foot from second position.

Moving three-wide and beginning to pass competitors at the half-mile pole, Holiday Disguise swooped to the lead, comfortably passing Pauseforthecause and Absatootly, en route to a 4 ¼-length win.

Her final time was 1:11.13 on the main track labelled fast.

"She looks like she's more comfortable when she's outside horses," said Lezcano. "She broke a little behind but picked it up and went behind the favorite. When I asked her, she kicked very good. There was plenty of speed and my filly can really finish."

Returning $11.40 for a $2 win wager, the 5-year-old daughter of Harlan's Holiday boosted her career earnings to $554,875 with her purse share winnings of $59,125 including a NYRA Starter Loyalty Gold member bonus for owner Lady Shelia Stable and trainer Linda Rice.

"I was a little concerned because the track has been favoring speed for the last couple of days," said Rice. "So, that was definitely a concern and also 'Holiday' really hasn't had success [at the distance]. I don't think she's ever won a race at six furlongs, though she's obviously capable of it."

Bred in New York by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor, Holiday Disguise now boasts a record of 7-1-2 from 13 career starts.

Pauseforthecause in second and Palladian Bridge in third each received additional bonuses as Gold members of the NYRA Starter Loyalty program. Absatootly, Startwithsilver, Filibustin, I Still Miss You, and Queeb completed the order of finish.

Live racing continues Sunday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card headlined by the $100,000 Haynesfield. Sunday's card will also feature a NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 carryover of $42,511 and a single-day Pick 6 carryover of $19,496. First post time is 12:50 p.m.