Two races after winning the Dance Smartly Stakes (Can-II) with Solid Appeal, owners Susan and Jim Hill and trainer Reade Baker were back in the Woodbine winner's circle following Go Blue Or Go Home's 5 1/4-length tour de force in the Highlander Stakes Presented by Pizzaville (Can-III) (VIDEO).
The Highlander, for 3-year-olds and up and worth $190,612, was originally slated for six furlongs on turf but was moved to the Polytrack due to heavy rain that was falling during the Queen's Plate program. Go Blue Or Go Home, with Luis Contreras up, covered the distance in 1:10.46.
Go Blue Or Go Home wired the field in the Highlander, setting splits of :22.08, :44.88, and :57.11. Something Extra, the 2-1 favorite, and Next Question gave chase early before both fading early on.
Go Blue Or Go Home paid $8.70, $5.60, and $3.90. Super Chunky returned $16 and $9.10, and Dan the Tin Man paid $9.50. The $2 (9-7) exacta paid $182.40.
Fatal Bullet finished fourth and was followed by Night Officer, Bear No Joke, Something Extra, Big Band Sound, Executive Five, Next Question, and Rothko. Bear Tough Tiger and Paso Doble were scratched.
Go Blue Or Go Home was bred in Virginia by Wayne and Susie Chatfield-Taylor's Morgan's Ford Farm and WinStar Farm. The son of Bluegrass Cat is out of the Irish-bred Go Baby Go, by Lion Cavern. The Highlander winner was a $90,000 purchase from the Morgan's Ford Farm, agent, consignment the 2009 Keeneland November sale, the same venue the Hills purchased Solid Appeal.
Go Baby Go is the dam of Hugo, a restricted stakes winner by Stormy Atlantic , and the stakes-placed Flibberjibit (by Arch). Go Baby Go is out of grade I winner Bequest and from the family of British and Irish 2-year-old filly champion Gentle Thoughts and Treizieme, a group I winner in France.
The Highlander winner came to the race off a stakes score over a synthetic surface in the $100,000 Karl Boyes Memorial Stakes at Presque Isle Downs in his stakes debut. Last year he made five starts and won three times, all on the turf including a four-length score going five furlongs on the grass in an allowance race at Churchill Downs. He now has a 5-0-0 mark from seven starts and has earned $212,678.
Go Blue Or Go Home wins the Highlander Stakes.
