When Hooh Why runs on the synthetic surface at Woodbine, the Florida-bred filly can be counted on for an honest effort, and she proved it once again Saturday by winning the $155,363 Seaway Stakes (G3) by 1 ¾ lengths.
Hooh Why, a daughter of Cloud Hopping bred and co-owned by Gail Gee of Derby Daze Farm in Ocala, got the second graded win of her career, having taken the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in April 2009. Though her biggest victory came in Kentucky, Hooh Why’s favorite track appears to be Woodbine, where she has three wins in seven starts on the main track and only one finish out of the money.
Jockey Emile Ramsammy steered Hooh Why to a win in the $168,000 La Lorgnette Stakes at Woodbine in May 2009 and was back aboard Saturday. They ran in second place early as the favored Tribal Belle took the field of five fillies and mares through a quarter-mile in 22.86 seconds. Tribal Belle quickly began to tire, and Hooh Why inherited a lead she would never relinquish.
Hooh Why led by half a length after a half-mile in 44.81 seconds and stretched her advantage to 1 ½ lengths at the head of the lane She stopped the clock for seven furlongs in 1:23.51 and returned $15.50, $5.50 and $3.80.
Hooh Why was making her first start for trainer Donald MacRae. The 4-year-old filly has won six of her 22 starts and earned $724,210 for an ownership group that includes Mark Hoffman and Earl Trostrud. Hooh Why has earned all of her wins on synthetic surfaces and has finished off the board just three times in 19 starts on artificial surfaces.
“Mark (Hoffman) and I are friends,” said MacRae. “He was leaving her up here for a bit, and he had to go out of town. He left her with me. Mark and I talked every day. I kept her under his program. I just had to keep her happy. She’s a classy filly.”
Indian Apple Is, who won the $113,000 Sweet Briar Too Stakes at Woodbine over Tribal Belle in July, was second in the Seaway and was followed by Mother Russia, Tribal Belle and Carem Crescent.
