Havre de Grace enters Woodward, eyes Horse of Year
August 31, 2011SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) - With an eye toward a late-season run at a Horse of the Year title, the owner and trainer of Havre de Grace, the nation's second-leading older female behind her long-time rival Blind Luck, have chosen to face males in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes.
Owner Rick Porter and trainer Larry Jones saw Havre de Grace installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field of eight Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
Running in the Woodward, Porter said, came after Blind Luck, who was under consideration for the Personal Ensign Invitational, was kept on the West Coast for the Pacific Classic - a race she ultimately withdrew from. The Personal Ensign, originally scheduled for Sunday but postponed when Tropical Storm Irene forced cancellation, will also be run on Saturday.