Hazelbrook, a 4-year-old daughter of Bayern, goes for another graded stakes crown, this time in the Nov. 12 Bessarabian Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.
The seven-furlong main track feature for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, has drawn nine starters, including Hazelbrook.
Trained by Lorne Richards, the True North Stable charge has enjoyed a stellar campaign, a season that includes four wins from five starts, and stakes success in the Hendrie Stakes (G3), the Sweet Briar Too Stakes, and most recently, the Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3).
The bay's other 2022 start was a runner-up effort in the Seaway Stakes (G3) when she finished second to multiple graded stakes winner Lady Speightspeare, who was third in the recent Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Keeneland.
"It's been a great year for her," Richards said. "She's been good every start and we're really proud of her."
Bred in Kentucky by Mike Bilbrey, Hazelbrook finished third at 68-1 in her debut in November 2020, a 6-furlong maiden special event race over the Tapeta.
She began her 3-year-old season in style, winning her first two races before finishing eighth in the Duchess Stakes Sept. 25, the final start of her sophomore campaign.
Hazelbrook was back in the winner's circle after her first start of 2022, the beginning of a three-race win streak.
"I liked her from the very start," Richards said. "The only thing is that she's very quirky. She has had issues with her digestive system for a while, so that's something we've had to monitor closely. The clinic in Guelph told me it's kind of like colitis. It's something where you have to take it day-by-day, but there's no denying she has plenty of talent. She can be high-strung, so we do our best. But I'm not going to complain. She shows up every time."
Partnering Hazelbrook with jockey Jason Hoyte has proven to be a winning combination.
"Jason has worked for me for years, galloping, and she was kind of a bad actor," Richards said. "I didn't get a lot of takers wanting to ride her. We finally got her onto the track, and she dumped her rider the first time she was supposed to run, and she ended up getting scratched. But Jason has done a fantastic job with her."
The Bessarabian will be the final start of the season for Hazelbrook, who sports a lifetime record of 6-1-1 from nine starts.
"She deserves it," Richards said. "She's had a great year, but she can be hard on herself... You can't knock her at all."
Mark Casse sends out the duo Beyond Mybudget and Our Flash Drive. Fellow conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr. has Artie's Princess and Allworthy entered.
Woodbine, Saturday, November 12, 2022, Race 8Entries: Bessarabian S. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Artie's Princess (ON) Jose L. Ortiz 124 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 5/2 2 2Sweet Enough (GB) Emma-Jayne Wilson 120 Roger L. Attfield 20/1 3 3Hazelbrook (KY) Jason Hoyte 123 Lorne Richards 3/1 4 4Lorena (ON) Rafael Manuel Hernandez 122 Stuart C. Simon 15/1 5 5Beyond Mybudget (ON) Declan Carroll 120 Mark E. Casse 8/1 6 6Our Flash Drive (FL) Patrick Husbands 122 Mark E. Casse 7/2 7 7Awesome Treat (KY) Jose Luis Campos 120 Steve Attard 20/1 8 8Loyalty (FL) Luis Contreras 120 Josie Carroll 6/1 9 9Allworthy (KY) Kazushi Kimura 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 8/1
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
