Even with a lack of it for this running of the GII Honorable Miss Stakes in Saratoga, the Sunshine State was well-represented as Halina's Forte (Mitole) outbattled fellow Florida-bred R Disaster (Awesome Slew) to earn her first graded stakes win.
Given the cold shoulder by the betting public, she went off at 24-1 long odds for this sloppy (sealed) running of the contest, and was content to watch R Disaster set the pace as she saved all the ground on the rail in fifth. Still in midpack behind an opening quarter in :21.72 and a half in :44.50, she made her move from the inside to overtake that longtime leader in deep stretch and hold off a second wind. The 6-5 favorite, Scylla (Tapit), ran on for third.
“I called up Mr. Rigney and I said, 'well, at least we know they handled it on the bridle going 50,” joked winning trainer Phil Bauer in regard to the wet going Sunday. “It didn't put any concern into us. I knew the two [R Disaster] would probably go and I thought that we had better gate speed than anybody just in our previous races, but we couldn't keep foot. So, when everything kind of developed the only thing missing was [stablemate] Little Prankster [Practical Joke, finished last]. I saw us getting to them coming for home and she just dug in. Pretty special day… This proved her class and her talent.”
Halina's Forte was last seen June 6 beginning her 2025 campaign at Prairie Meadows, finishing second by a half-length in the Prairie Rose Stakes. Last season, she accounted for a pair of stakes–the seven-furlong Ruthless Stakes at the Big A in February and later in the summer added the 5 1/2-furlong Galway Stakes over this surface in August.
“Just last year, when I rode her, it was the same surface, I think they sealed it,” said winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. “Small field but not a lot of trouble in the end, stayed inside and she was game. I got the one hole, there was a lot of speed in the race, so I was hoping to break good and then bide my time from there. If I can stay on the rail, that would be beautiful if I can get through because I know she can do that. It worked out beautiful, we got the rail open–I got horse, moving great so I go for it, and she worked the other day on this same track, same surface. Phil [Bauer] worked her just in case she liked it, so we worked her, and she worked great, and it worked out beautiful. Look how the track is today they sealed it, and she liked it.”
Asked about a potential start in the Aug. 23 GI Resorts World Casino Ballerina Stakes which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
Bauer added, “You have [GISW] Ways and Means sitting out there, but if she continues to move forward, we might consider it.”
Pedigree Notes:
Halina's Forte becomes the sixth graded stakes winner for Spendthrift sire Mitole. As a yearling, the bay realized $130,000 at OBS Winter before bringing $250,000 at Fasig-Tipton later in July. After three failed attempts, SW Lunarlady produced a full sister to Halina's Forte earlier this season.
Sunday, Saratoga
HONORABLE MISS S.-GII, $200,000, Saratoga, 7-20, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:09.87, sy.
1–HALINA'S FORTE, 120, f, 4, by Mitole
1st Dam: Lunarlady (SW), by Yes It's True
2nd Dam: Quiet Eclipse, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: June Gift, by Hold Your Peace
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000 Ylg '22 OBSWIN. $250,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Rigney Racing LLC; B-Bill & Corinne Heilegbrodt & A.F.& B. Vanlangendonck (FL); T-Philip Bauer; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $110,000. Lifetime Record: 14-6-3-2, $526,450. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–R Disaster, 122, f, 4, Awesome Slew–Making Havoc, by Gottcha Gold. O-Averill Racing LLC, Two Eight Racing and Anthony Mattera; B-Ocala Stud & J. Michael O'Farrell Jr. (FL); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $40,000.
3–Scylla, 124, m, 5, Tapit–Close Hatches, by First Defence. O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-William I. Mott. $24,000.
Margins: HF, 1HF, 1HF. Odds: 24.00, 2.60, 1.25.
Also Ran: Jody's Pride, Striker Has Dial, Benedetta, Carmelina, Little Prankster. Scratched: Zadorsky.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
HUGE upset in the G2 Honorable Miss!
HALINA'S FORTE ($50.00) wins at 24-1 with @iradortiz aboard for trainer Phil Bauer. pic.twitter.com/dzoQ6r5mfd
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) July 20, 2025
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