Jordan’s Henny prevailed in Saturday’s $125,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park by three parts of a length after being sent off the 59-1 third longest shot in the 12-strong field.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione guided the Henny Hughes filly in the sprint, allowing her to settle in the rear of the field as they descended down the backstretch. Jordan’s Henny slowly began picking off runners, first on the inside and then angling out to split rivals nearing the turn.
She was still well behind in the lane and floated even wider out into the middle of the track to circle a log jam up front. The gray miss put on a final burst of speed and just got up to record a three-quarter length victory in a final time of 1:23.68 for seven furlongs over the fast main track.
Jordan’s Henny wasn’t given much of a shot in the race, but returned $120 to her faithful backers at 59-1 odds. Curlin’s Approval, the 8-5 favorite, took second by another three parts of a length over Rich Mommy, while Moonlit Promise filled the fourth spot another 1 1/2 lengths behind.
Completing the order under the wire were Bodacious Babe, Marley’s Freedom, Spice Lady, Nonna Mela, Apologynotaccepted, Magalie, Shar Ran and Money or Love.
Jordan’s Henny was making her four-year-old bow in the Hurricane Bertie for trainer Michael Tomlinson off a third-place run in last September’s Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs. She earned her first stakes win in this spot, but also boasts placings in last year’s Davona Dale Stakes (G2), Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and Iowa Oaks (G3).
Campaigned by E. Ervine Woolsey and Ralph Kinder, the Kentucky-bred filly has banked $262,596 in lifetime earnings to along with a 15-3-3-5 career mark.
The homebred Jordan’s Henny is the first registered stakes winner out of the Rubiano mare Sophiano.
HURRICANE BERTIE QUOTES
Tyler Gaffalione, jockey Jordan’s Henny, winner
“The filly broke well today. She put herself in a real nice spot and was relaxed back there. When I picked her up at the three-eighths pole, she started giving me more down the lane, had a big stride and was all horse today.
“Hat’s off to (trainer) Mike (Tomlinson). He did a great job and it’s always a pleasure to ride for him.
“The owners really like this horse. They had a lot of confidence in her and were just hoping she showed up today.”
Michael Tomlinson, trainer Jordan’s Henny, winner
“She is quite a prize. She’s come off of a layoff, she’s had a hard campaign last year. We freshened her and the owners let us do what we needed to do. Everyone discounted her, but this filly has a lot of class and we’re just thrilled to death with the outcome of today. Tyler (Gaffalione) and I discussed the amount of speed in the race and he did such a wonderful job and we’re just tickled to death for everyone involved.
“If you look at her form, she’s got back class all the way. She ran very competitive here last year and she had just been working so well and so easy, doing everything we asked her to do. What the owners and I talked about whether we could find an allowance race or running her here, we opted to run her here at Gulfstream and I’ll be the first to tell you my heart wanted to run here, but the trainer instinct said to give her an easier race to start with, but it’s worked out and it’s been a great ride with this filly.
“I told Tyler to just let him go and said she will come running and that’s the way it worked out. She runs well here and it’s just a privilege to be here.”
