Empire Haack Scores In Gr. Pitcher Molly In NJ

Location, location, location.

Or, in the $300,000 Grade 2 Pitcher Molly Stakes Saturday, maybe it was more a matter of post position, post position, post position.

Empire Haack and Artemis And Apollo put on a stretch battle for the ages in the 8.5 furlong grade 2 race on the dirt course in New Jersey this weekend. But in the end, it was probably the ground-saving trip that Empire Haack got–and Artemis And Apollo didn’t–that was responsible for Empire Haack’s win in the Pitcher Molly.

The two highly-ranked mares in the older females classic dirt division hooked up in mid-stretch and put on quite a show for the fans in New Jersey, but Empire Haack’s ground-saving trip played a huge role in her 1 ¼ length victory over number two ranked Artemis and Apollo Saturday.

“Empire Haack was supposed to run last week in a Grade 1,” said Otto of Otto Haack (Venezuela) Stables, the owner of the now number 11-ranked female in the classic dirt division. “But she didn’t appear sharp, so I held her back a week for this race.”

Long-shot Giudecca bounced out of the gates first from the one hole and stayed there for most of the first six panels Saturday, burning up the track with some very fast early fractions. The roan daughter of Distorted Humor set fractions of 22.97 and 46.16 while bouncing out to nearly a three-length lead over Darkest Days and Vimsha.

Darkest Days, who ended up finishing third in Saturday’s race, drafted in behind Giudecca for much of the way, with Empire Haack laying back on the rail just behind Darkest Days.

Meanwhile, Artemis And Apollo, who broke from the ten hole, was caught four or five wide for most of Saturday’s race, before she finally caught a break on the far turn and collared Guidecca at the six furlong marker. Artemis And Apollo was timed at a blazing 1:09.65 at the six furlong pole when she caught Guidecca.

At that point, Guidecca started to drift out a bit from the rail, allowing Darkest Days and Empire Haack to glide past on the rail coming into the turn for home.

Then, when Darkest Days drifted out slightly, it left a hole on the rail for Empire Haack, who caught Artemis And Apollo in mid-stretch.

And it was just about then that Empire Haack and Artemis And Apollo hooked up for what would turn out to be a classic stretch duel. About half a furlong from the finish, Empire Haack stuck her neck out in front of last year’s Chestnut Stakes winner Artemis And Apollo and ended up with the 1 ¼ length victory.

Otto, who said he has Breeders’ Bowl aspirations for Empire Haack, is excited about his mare’s prospects come November. “Her condition and form now make me think she will be very hard to beat, and I’m very optimistic about her next two starts.”

Otto said the five year old daughter of Empire Maker who is stabled in his Marisol barn, a barn named after his mother, will probably go for the Grade 1 Bra Snap Stakes in California next, and if she does well there, it’s probably on to Kentucky for an appearance in the Breeders’ Bowl Distaff.

“Maybe she will get an Eclipse Award this year,” said Otto. “Last year, I had five horses in the Breeders’ Bowl. But this year, as of now, she is the only hope that I have to get my first Breeders’ Bowl winner.”

“Artemis And Apollo ran her race like she usually does and just got beat,” said her owner, J.C., who was making no excuses after the race about her post position. “She will still win plenty of races for us. Nothing to hang our heads about.”

Artemis And Apollo, who was looking for her incredible fifth graded win in 2011, has had a stellar campaign this year and is ranked number two in the older females classic dirt division after her second place finish in the Pitcher Molly.

One thing Artemis And Apollo has just about all locked up is a a Breeders’ Bowl berth, if her owners decide to send her to Kentucky in November. And the way she’s been running in 2011 definitely makes her a top flight candidate for an Eclipse Award in her division, as well.

Empire Haack ran a 111 speed figure on Saturday, with a winning time of 1:41 1/5, two fifths of a second faster than the winning time set by 2010 Pitcher Molly Stakes winner Bavmorda.

Empire Haack paid $11.70, $6.80 and $4.10 to her supporters at the windows. The 3-10 exacta with Artemis And Apollo second paid 44.10, while the 3-10-2 trifecta with Darkest Days third paid $553.00.