THREE CONSECUTIVE STAKES WINS PUT HESSONITE ON POSSIBLE LIST FOR FLOWER BOWL

After winning her third consecutive stakes restricted to New York-breds, Hessonite could step up in class in the Grade I Flower Bowl on Sept. 29 for her next start, trainer David Donk said Monday.

Donk said the distance of the Flower Bowl would suite Hessonite, and she has run very well at Belmont, especially over less-than-firm ground.

“The mile and a quarter, I always thought that’s what she wanted, and especially if the ground is soft,” Donk said. “It’s something I need to look at. It’s in the thought process.”

In her first start at 1 1/8 miles, Hessonite dominated Sunday’s John Hettinger S. by 5 ¼ lengths. Her final time of 1:52.15 over a yielding turf was 1.15 seconds faster than that of Lubash, who won the Ashley T. Cole for New York-bred males an hour later.

Donk also said by running in the Flower Bowl it wouldn’t inhibit Hessonite from running back in the $175,000 Ticonderoga for New York-breds on Oct. 20. Last year, Hessonite won the Ticonderoga after finishing second in the Pebbles for open company 3-year-old fillies.