Hibaayeb and Giants Play to duel in the New York Stakes at Belmont Park for a $150,000 purse
Belmont Park is to host the $150,000 New York Stakes. The Grade 2 event is usually held during the third week of June but this time around it is being contested on June 25, 2011.
The New York Stakes is first on the Belmont’s racing card and it has drawn a field of seven mares and fillies.
The race has Hibaayeb installed as the 7-5 morning line favourite. Hibaayeb will battle with Giants Play.
Both were the top finishers in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay held on May 28, 2011, won by Hibaayeb. The four-year-old filly receives conditioning from Saeed Bin Suroor.
Saeed Bin Suroor commented on Hibaayeb’s fabulous win said, “She ran well last time when she won the grade II, She came back sound after her last race and is in good form. Now, we’re going to run her in a grade II again. I think we’ll see a good race from
her again”.
Suroor believes that the New York Stakes’ distance of 10 furlongs, which is shorter than the Sheepshead Bay Stakes, will not be a disadvantage for Hibaayeb.
He made a statement on this, saying “She won the (Ribblesdale) in England at a mile; I don’t think the trip will be a problem for her”.
The bay filly races for Godolphin Racing LLC. Godolphin is the Maktoum family’s private horseracing stable and her mount will be held by John Velazquez.
Hibaayeb was victorious in last year’s meet of Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Ribblesdale and after her coup in England, she was sent to USA where she enjoyed two wins from four starts.
She overthrew Turning Top in her United States’ debut in the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, held on October 2, 2010 at Hollywood Park.
She then stepped in the Grade 1 Emirates Airline Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Turf on November 5, 2010 where she was a disappointing eighth.
Speaking of the other rival, Giants Play will attempt to even the score with Hibaayeb in the New York Stakes. She was beaten by the classy Hibaayeb to a fifth position in her third start in the United States.
The filly came third in the two races at the Gulfstream Park she took part in, both held in 2011. One was an allowance race and the other was a Grade 3 Orchid, held on March 30.
Giants Play has been placed as the 7-2 morning-second choice for the New York Stakes. He will break from post 6 under jockey, Rajiv Maragh.
The four-year-old bay filly is trained by Christophe Clement and his assistant believes that a firm ground will help Giants Play in her try to make it even with Hibaayeb.
His statement states the same, “She’s always a little bit keen, and softer ground takes a little more out of them, She has a hard time relaxing. If the ground ends up good to soft, I don’t think it would be to our advantage. But if the ground is on the firmer
side, I think that might help her a little bit”.
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