Hattaash give connections something to cheer about with
Washington Park third
Saturday’s exciting stretch drive in the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap was a meaningful one for those involved with
third-place finisher Hattaash, who closed resolutely to fall just a half-length
short to Grade 2 victor Willcox Inn and another local longshot
Gallant Eagle.
Owned by Kenneth Fishbein, Hattaash was dismissed at 12-1 by the
betting public, despite impressively winning at the Washington Park course and distance two starts back.
Off since finishing fourth in an allowance behind three
stakes winners on June 30, Hattaash ran like a fresh horse, closing with vigor
under apprentice Emmanuel Esquivel.
“He’d been off for two months. We couldn’t
find a place to stick him. We kept going after races that wouldn’t go for one
reason or another,” trainer Cheryl Winebaugh explained. “Esquivel rode him
perfectly. It could not have been better. We definitely were excited.”
Having something about which to be happy and excited is
welcome for the Winebaugh barn. On June 21, about one week prior to Hattaash
finishing fourth in that salty allowance, Hattaash’s longtime trainer Chrlie
Bettis died of natural causes.
Since then, Winebaugh has overseen the stable and
taken over many of the Bettis horses, including Hattaash. Saturday’s performance
was only her 17th start since taking over the barn and the resulting $16,335
earned by Hattaash makes up for more than 25 percent of her earnings thus far.
“I was a little shocked to be honest,” Winebaugh admitted. “I think he ran the race of his life. He is
definitely getting to be a little better horse. I think the time off probably
helped him.”
As far as the future for her six-year-old stable star, Winebaugh is still letting the dust settle and enjoying the moment.
“There are a
few spots we’ll look at. We’ll watch him train and then go from there,” she
explained. “Today he was a little tired, for sure. But he ran great — just
really awesome. We are so happy.”
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