DENALI SOLD HESSONITE BEATS THE BOYS IN NY

Berkshire bred Hessonite took on males for the first time in her career, and came roaring down the center of the course, collared Freud’s Honor near the wire, to win by a head at Saratoga in the $100,000 Cab Calloway/Statue of Liberty Division of the New York Stallion Series, for 3-year-old New York breds on the turf.

Running as the favorite at the Spa, HESSONITE had defeated New York-bred fillies one start earlier at Belmont, but on Thursday was forced to run against males owing to insufficient runners to make a race restricted to fillies, and another New York-bred race, both go.

It didn’t matter. Hessonite closed strongly under jockey Ramon Dominguez, covering her final quarter-mile in less than 24 seconds, to complete one mile on the firm inner turf course in 1:37.61.

Hessonite, by Freud, has now won four times in eight starts for David Donk, who trains the filly for William Punk and Phil DiLeo.