Haveyougoneaway rallies past Paulassilverlining in G2 Honorable Miss

by Dave Litfin

Stepping back into open company after taking a New York-bred stake at Belmont Park earlier this month, Haveyougoneaway rallied from next-to-last to catch favored Paulassilverlining in Wednesday's 25th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

Coming back to the races 24 days after taking the Dancin Renee Stakes in her second start for trainer Tom Morley, Haveyougoneaway broke a half-step slow under Kendrick Carmouche, and they were content to follow a four-way skirmish for the early lead among Disco Chick, Diva Express, Sarah Sis and second-choice Bar of Gold that unfolded through fractions of 22.01 and 45.04 seconds.

Paulassilverlining, the 7-5 choice, looked as though she might garner her third straight stakes victory after coming off the rail to take charge in mid-stretch, but Haveyougoneaway closed steadily in the middle of the track to win by a neck. It was 12 lengths back to Disco Chick in third, with the order of finish completed by La Madrina, Sarah Sis, Diva Express and Bar of Gold.

"I broke good and I was sitting behind the top four and being patient," said Carmouche. "The favorite came inside of me. I let her take the spot I could have been in because I knew my filly would make up the ground. Right past the eighth pole I grinded a little and she really came home. This horse never really exploded like she did. That's when I knew she would grind it out."

Haveyougoneaway carried 117 pounds, five fewer than top-weighted Paulassilverlining, as she extended her record to 10-4-6 from 25 career starts. She ran six furlongs in 1:09.94, and returned $9.40 to win as the third choice in the field of seven fillies and mares.

"All meet, this track has been playing so far where you need to be in the middle of the track," Morley observed. "The rail is not the place to be. [Kendrick] angled outside the seven [Bar of Gold] and took dead aim at Paulassilverlining. We just got there in time. It's very special to do it with a New York-bred. I'm a huge fan of the New York-bred program. The Ballerina [Grade 1, August 27] has to be a consideration ... off the back of today's performance, you have to consider the Breeders' Cup."