Defiant Honor rolled past Cherry Lodge at the top of the stretch to capture Thursday’s $100,000 Riskaverse S. at Saratoga by a length over Fizzy Friday (GB).
The victory was the first stakes win for the 3-year-old Speightstown filly, who has more than 20 black type horses and over $6 million in progeny earnings to date in 2017.
Defiant Honor, owned by her breeder Phillips Racing Partnership in conjunction with Pam Gartin, let Cherry Lodge sprint away by a half-dozen lengths in the first furlong while she took up her place in second. Jose Lezcano began to reel in the leader through the first six fulrongs. The winner was very strong in the stretch, easily holding off her pursuers to get the mile on the firm turf in 1:35.67.
“I think she’s a quality filly and things went well for her today,” said winning trainer Jimmy Toner. “The way the race set up, there was one speed and she didn’t have to be restrained or anything. It was a perfect trip. Everything worked out today. It’s all good.”
Defiant Honor has won three of her six starts, and finished second in the Jimmy Durante S. (G3) last November as a 2-year-old. Her earnings stand at $172,015.
Defiant Honor comes from a classic Darby Dan family. Her dam Honor Bestowed has produced the graded stakes winners Recepta and Taqarub and is a half-sister to the Champion Turf Mare Soaring Softly and multiple Grade 2 winner Plenty of Grace.
