Courtesy of Hollywood Park
The 17th Turf Festival at Hollywood Park began Friday and in the co-feature, Shadwell Farm's HABAYA closed from mid-pack under Richard Migliore to win the $113,800 Miesque Stakes (G3) by three-quarters of a length over Internallyflawless. Eloquently was just a nose back in third with favorite Emmy Darling another nose back in fourth in the field of 12 2-year-old fillies.
HABAYA, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, covered one mile on turf in 1:37.07 while rewarding backers with payoffs of $6.80, $4.20 and $3.20. Internallyflawless paid $4.60 and $3.80, while the show payoff on Eloquently was $4.80.
HABAYA, a winner of two of three races, broke her maiden in her career debut in September at Belmont Park, then finished second in the Jessamine at Keeneland in October. All of her starts have been on turf.
"We're going to space out her races a little bit, look after her, and have big goals in mind next summer like the American Oaks," said Neal McLaughlin, assistant trainer to his brother. "I really feel like she is a filly that wants to go a mile and one-quarter. Our main worry was the mile might be a little short for her because she really is bred to go a mile and one-eighth or a mile and one-quarter."
HABAYA, a daughter of Storm Cat out of champion Golden Apples, banked $73,800 to raise her earnings to $135,000.