Sunday’s $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) drew only six distaffers to sprint 6 1/2 furlongs over Belmont Park’s main track, but two of those six have faced off in the recent past.
Highway Star and Carina Mia both showed up last out in the Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on August 26, with the former missing the win by a head while holding the latter to third by a length.
Highway Star is seeking a return to the winner’s circle in this spot, having dropped her past two including a third-place run in the 1 1/16-mile Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1). Prior to that, the Rodrigo Ubillo-trained four-year-old posted back-to-back wins in the Ruffian Stakes (G2) and Distaff Handicap (G3). The Girolamo chestnut was fourth in her 2017 bow, the Ladies Handicap, which snapped a three-race win streak from her sophomore campaign.
“She’s been doing great and she’s always been in good shape, so all is well,” Ubillo said. “She likes to win. She likes her job. She’s consistent and always brings her ‘A’ game to every race. It’s nice to have her, for sure.
“If you ask which track she prefers, it’s Belmont, she trains well here and is happy,” the horseman added. “She likes to race, so it doesn’t matter if they go fast or slow. She adjusts to the pace and pretty much the jockey doesn’t have to do anything. She’s smart and puts herself in the race. It doesn’t matter with her.”
Regular rider Angel Arroyo has the call on Highway Star.
Grade 1 heroine Carina Mia put in a nice rally in the Ballerina, but was unable to catch the top two. The Malibu Moon four-year-old miss was making just her second start for trainer Chad Brown in that spot, having captured the Shine Again Stakes one race earlier. The dark bay filly made her final start for trainer Bill Mott in the Ogden Phipps, once again finishing directly behind Highway Star, this time by three parts of a length.
Third in the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) to kick off her 2017 campaign, Carina Mia keeps Javier Castellano aboard for the Gallant Bloom.
Quezon and Absatootly faced off in the Union Avenue Stakes last out, separated by 1 1/2 lengths when second and third, respectively. The former, a Tiz Wonderful mare trained by Robert Ribaudo, returns for a second try in the Gallant Bloom after running second by three parts of a length last year. Absatootly, a Mineshaft filly conditioned by Charlton Baker, tries graded rivals for the first time here.
Joel Rosario rides Quezon while Joe Bravo has pilot duties on Absatootly.
Completing the Gallant Bloom field are Grade 2 victress Lucy N Ethel, unraced since suffering her first career loss when 12th in last October’s Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, and Friend of Liberty, who has been claimed out of her past three starts.
