Chelsea Durand Photo

Highway Star rallies to win graded stakes debut in G3 Go for Wand

by Brian Bohl

Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Highway Star overtook Wonder Gal in deep stretch to win her graded stakes debut by a nose in the 77th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Highway Star, carrying 115 pounds, won her third consecutive start and improved to 5-0-1 in seven career races in winning the NYRA circuit's final graded stakes of 2016. 

Trained by Rodrigo Ubillo, Highway Star stayed off Wonder Gal's fractions of 24.20 seconds for a quarter mile and 47.67 for a half. Jockey Angel Arroyo prodded the 3-year-old chestnut filly to the outside to pass Wonder Gal in the final eighth and held off a late-charging High Ridge Road to hit the wire in 1:38.07 at one mile on the main track.  

"My filly broke good," Arroyo said. "I put her on in stalking position and on the backside, we were clear and went through. I had her in good control in the stretch and she really responded. [She was] real strong. I'm excited for her future. She's good."

Off at 7-1, Highway Star, who won the New York Stallion Series Staten Island last out on November 13 at the Big A, paid $17.20 on a $2 win bet to improve her career earnings to $369,000.

"The pace was too slow [early] and, I don't know what happened, but Angel was too far back [on the backside] with the pace and everything," Ubillo said. "I thought we were going to be third with a good pace but he was almost next to last at one point. [When the fractions came up,] we were a little bit concerned, but it worked out just fine."

Ubillo said Highway Star is a possibility to race on Aqueduct's inner track this winter.

"I'm not afraid of the inner track, I think she will do just fine," he said. "Every time she runs, she just gets better and better; more feisty and more happy. I ride her myself [in the mornings] and she gives me a good energy. She's almost dropped me off like twice; she jumps and kicks, she's just happy. She likes her job."

High Ridge Road, for trainer Linda Rice, finished second in her graded stakes debut while carrying 115 pounds. 

Wonder Gal, at 117 pounds, came in third in her first start since her 10th-place effort in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Fillies & Mare Sprint on November 5 at Santa Anita Park.

Bar of Gold, the post-time favorite and high weight of 121 pounds, Cayman Croc, Camille Claudel and Burn Control completed the order of finish.