Haveyougoneaway | NYRA/Coglianese
Haveyougoneaway secured her third-straight victory, and provided both herself and trainer Tom Morley with a first Grade I win as she pulled off a 10-1 upset in Saturday’s GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga.
Haveyougoneaway was previously a three-time stakes winner for Champion Racing Stable and trainer Allen Miligan, including Oaklawn’s American Beauty S. Jan. 23 and Spring Fever S. Feb. 20. The New York-bred was acquired privately by Sequel Racing and transferred to Morley following a runner-up finish as the 4-5 favorite in the Carousel S. in Arkansas Apr. 14.
The chestnut has continued to elevate her game since moving to Morley’s shedrow. Facing Empire-breds in her next two at Belmont, she finished second going a mile in a muddy renewal of the Critical Eye S. May 30, then went one better in the Dancin Renee S. July 3. Haveyougoneaway took advantage of a hot pace and registered a career high in Saratoga’s six-furlong GII Honorable Miss H. July 27 and was a bit overlooked to keep the streak alive while taking on an additional furlong here.
Owner Gary Barber had acquired a piece in the mare since her latest effort, and she raced in his silks in this “Win and You’re In” contest for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Haveyougoneaway was kept within striking distance while out in the clear after exiting from post 10 through somewhat easy early fractions of :23.39 and :45.54. The heavily favored Grade I winning sophomore Carina Mia, second behind the brilliant Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks S. last time, made the first move to gain a narrow advantage from Paulassilverlining (Ghostzapper) entering the far turn while John Velazquez remained patient in fourth aboard Haveyougoneaway. Haveyougoneaway came widest of all off the turn for home and continued to grind away in the stretch as odds-on favorite and sophomore Carina Mia grew leg weary and started to drift. Longshot By the Moon put in a big run in between horses and looked like she had a chance to pull off the upset nearing the wire, but Haveyougoneaway fought her way past in the shadow of the wire to get the money in dramatic fashion.
“I’m dripping in sweat,” Morley commented. “I’m glad my assistant hosed me down. What a thrill. You can’t beat that. It’s Saratoga, we just won a Grade I. It’s as good as it gets, it really is. This filly, she’s good enough to win going six [furlongs] and she’s got plenty of gears; you can be tactical with her. We knew she’d stay. The seven-eighths is absolutely her wheelhouse and Johnny had her in the right spot the whole race. It was a great ride and a great result.”
As for what’s next, Morley added, “Now obviously we’ll have to plot our route to California carefully. She’s run three times in pretty quick succession. She’s had three big efforts in relatively quick succession, so we might just train up to the Breeders’ Cup.”