Winter Memories and Hungry Island to lock horns in the Just a Game Stakes for the fourth time
The 4-year-old Phillips Racing Partnership owned filly, Winter Memories, according to her connections came out of the Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes just fine, after winning the 1 1/16 mile event over Gitchee Goomie and Principal Role, who finished second and third
respectively, over at Belmont Park’s turf course on 5 May, 2012.
James Toner trained Winter Memories was up against McGaughey trained, Hungry Island, thrice last year, and the duo is expected to lock horns in their next meeting in the Just a Game Stakes at Belmont Park over the venue’s turf course at about 1 mile.
The two fillies met each other in their debut race, the maiden special weight race at Saratoga on 3 September, 2010, where Winter Memories downed Hungry Island by 4 ½ lengths in third.
"They're two quality fillies," trainer Jimmy Toner stated. "Believe me. I'm glad to see (Hungry Island) run as well as she did yesterday, and I'm happy we ran well as we did. It should make for a good match up later on. We're going back in the Just a Game."
Emory A. Hamilton’s Hungry Island kicked off her season with a third place finish in the 1 mile allowance test at Keeneland to winner Marketing Mix, but she bounced back, and now she is exiting a victory in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile where she pulled
a mild upset.
Under John Velazquez, Hungry Island defeated Tapitsfly in second and La Reine Lionne in third, whilce covering the mile distance in 1 minute and 36.20 seconds.
The Kentucky bred daughter of More Than Ready, Hungry Island did down Winter Memories once last year, in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes – which she won hands down, while Winter Memories after a troubled trip finished fourth.
The 4-year-old El Prado filly, Winter Memories had a perfect trip in the Beaugay Stakes under Eddie Castro.
"It was nice for Eddie," Toner said. "We're really happy for him. He's quiet and reserved but a real gentleman. I wasn't aware it was his 2000th win, but what a way to get your 2000th in a stakes race like that."
Tags: