The Harlan’s Holiday filly returned from an eight-month layoff in February to kick off her 4-year-old season with a 3 ¼-length win in the one-mile Biogio’s Rose for New York-breds at Aqueduct Racetrack. Following that effort, she faced open company for the first time in the Heavenly Prize, also at a mile, where she raced wide throughout to finish second to Divine Miss Grey.
Holiday Disguise turned the tables in the seven-furlong Distaff on April 6 at the Big A, turning for home five wide and digging in to win by a length. It was her fifth career victory from seven starts for trainer Linda Rice.
“She ran a big race in the Distaff, and we’re going to try her at the mile once again,” said Rice. “I thought possibly seven-eighths would be her best distance, but she deserves another chance at the mile. We’re excited about her this weekend. She won off a long layoff going a mile [in the Biogio’s Rose] and in the Heavenly Prize, there was no pace in the race, so I’m hoping there’s more pace this time. But, if not, we’ll just be a little closer.”
Holiday Disguise, a half-sister to 3-year-old multiple stakes winner Midnight Disguise, will break from post 2 with Jose Ortiz aboard.
Also making a bid in the Ruffian is Unchained Melody, making her first start since the Grade 1 Alabama in August at Saratoga Race Course, where she was pulled up after the half-mile pole and vanned off following the race.
“We gave her some time after the Alabama,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “Clinically, nothing clear ever really showed up after the race, but we wanted to give her some time off, so she got 90 days at Hidden Brook South in Florida. She came back in to us in January or so...
