SARATOGA RACE COURSE
The classy and consistent By the Moon is coming to Wednesday’s Honorable Miss Handicap in good form.
For older females, the Honorable Miss is a Grade 2 event at 6 furlongs, with a purse of $200,000.
It serves as a stepping stone to the Grade 1 Ballerina at 7 furlongs on Aug. 26.
By the Moon, trained by Michelle Nevin, is coming off a gritty victory in the Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses on June 9 at Belmont Park going 7 panels.
Last year, she won the Bed o’ Roses and passed on the Honorable Miss before finishing a close second in the Ballerina.
“There’s no real reason for that, and I’m not really concerned with the distance of the Honorable Miss,” said Nevin. “She has won at 6 ½ furlongs and 7 furlongs. And she is doing very well coming to this race.”
By the Moon has worked extremely well since the Bed o’ Roses, and has a fine record at the Spa.
She is owned by Jay Em Ess Stable and ridden by Rajiv Maragh.
This edition of the Honorable Miss figures to be hotly contested, with favoritism likely falling to Paulassilverlining.
She is unbeaten in two starts this year, both Grade 1 events at 7 furlongs.
Paulassilverlining won the Madison at Keeneland and the Humana Distaff at Churchill
Downs, the latter on Kentucky Derby Day.
Finley’s lucky charm will make sure the early pace is hot.
She has won all three of her starts this year in blazing front-running fashion, the latest being the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap on June 24 at Churchill Downs.
She is the only member of the field without a start at Saratoga.
On her best, Clothes Fall Off may play a role in the Honorable Miss.
She exits a last place finish in the Madison to Paulassilverlining, but earlier this year defeated that rival in the Correction Handicap at Aqueduct.
Disco Chick, winner of the Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 16, completes the field.
The race is named for an outstanding female sprinter of the mid-1970s who defeated males in several stakes in New York, including the Fall Highweight.