Peter Brant’s Fifty Five stalked the field before Hall of Fame jockey Javier Casteallano urged her to a six-wide flourish out of the far turn, overtaking the challengers from the outside in the stretch to win the 10th runner of the $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes.
Fifty Five, trained by Chad Brown, outkicked Munchkin Money by two lengths in winning her first stakes since the 2017 Ticonderoga, completing 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf listed as good in 1:48.98.
The 4-year-old Get Stormy filly was raised at Hidden Brook Farm and graduated from the Hidden Brook consignment at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling auction.
Fifty Five was bred by Empire Equines, LLC and has been off the board only once in her 15-start career while bankrolling $545,788. She is among two Hidden Brook yearling grads to win stakes on the September 23 Belmont card along with Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) heroine Union Strike.
