Havre de Grace works for Delaware Handicap

Wilmington, Del., July 4, 2011 — Havre de Grace, locally owned by Richard Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 this morning at Delaware Park in preparation for her engagement in the mile-and-a-quarter $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap on July 16.

“All is well,”” said trainer J. Larry Jones who won the Delaware Handicap in 2005 with Island Sand. “She worked this morning. It was just a little move forward towards her work next week, but all is well and she is right on schedule.”

Since being turned over to trainer J. Larry Jones at the end of her campaign last year, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Saint Liam is unbeaten in three starts this year. In her most recent she posted a 2 ¼-length triumph in the mile-and-an-eighth $150,000 Grade III Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park on June 11. Previously, she won a pair of Oaklawn Park stakes. On March 19, she beat Blind Luck by 3 ¼-lengths in the Grade III Azeri Stakes and she followed by notching a ¾-length score in the Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap on April 15. Last year, she finished second to Blind Luck in the Delaware Oaks and finished her 2010 campaign with a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs. She has a career record of six wins, three seconds and two thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $1,371,175.

Trainer J. Larry Jones ranks Havre de Grace as possibly the best horse he has ever trained.

“I even said that before we actually raced her the first time,” said Jones. “I thought she was showing me signs of being a very special horse. Hard Spun was very very nice. Unfortunately we do not know how good Eight Belles was going to get, but she sure was good. Proud Spell and Kodiak Kowboy both won Eclipse Awards and they were both special. But I think Havre de Grace is as good or better then anything we have ever had.”

Other works from this morning include: J W Blue, a possible for the Barbaro on July 9, breezed four furlongs in :49.00; Millenia, a possible for the Robert G. Dick on July 9, breezed five furlongs in :59.60; and Yankee Passion, another possible for the Barbaro, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.