Peter Brant’s Fifty Five continued to dominate the New York-bred turf events with a ground-saving trip in the $125,000 Mount Vernon Stakes, for fillies and mares 3 and up on the grass. Fifty Five broke from the rail, settled there in mid-pack, then swung out turning for home.
Foaled and offered by Hidden Brook Farm at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling sale, Fifty Five is one of five Memorial Day weekend blacktype runners to have come through the Hidden Brook program.
The 5-year-old Get Stormy mare rallied off fractions of :24.08, :47.88, and 1:11.04 set by Vip Nation. Fifty Five completed the mile in 1:34.09 over firm going and bested Lady Joan by a length. Kreesie was up for third over Wegetsdamunnys, who broke last of 11.
“This was a nice performance from her today,” said Brown’s assistant Whit Beckman. “After her last start at Aqueduct she seems to have rebounded fine. She runs real well on the lead. We didn’t expect to be in front like that, but it worked out well for us.”
“My filly broke well and I didn’t want to take anything away that came easy,” Castellano said. “She broke on top and I let her run her own race. She galloped along on the lead and she was just amazing. The way she did it today, I was very impressed. I have to thank Mr. Brown for giving me the opportunity to ride the filly. It was my first time on her and she made me look good today.”
Off as the 1-2 favorite, Fifty Five notched her fourth straight win against local company in the Mount Vernon. She ran her earnings up to $785,038 with a 9-3-5 record in 18 starts. Bred by Empire Equines she was purchased privately by Brant after winning the Florida Oaks (G3T) at 3.
Also on the Memorial Day Big Apple Showcase card at Belmont – Hidden Brook foaled sold Stakes winner Bankit upped his account to $378.625 with a 3rd in the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes and the Stakes-winningHidden Brook Florida grad Offering Plan grabbed the show spot in the $125,000 Kingston Stakes to increase his career earnings to $780,573. That same afternoon at Monmouth Park another Hidden Brook Florida grad, Swap Meet, earned blacktype for the first time in the $75,000 Hystericalady Stakes. Seven Hidden Brook Florida grads have now earned blacktype in 2019 alone
The big Hidden Brook weekend kicked off on Saturday, May 25 whenHidden Brook purchase Skywire continued his march to the $1 million Queen’s Plate with a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine. The son of Afleet Alex was previously victorious in the Wando Stakes on April 28.
