David Cassidy on the Web
Half Heaven breaks maiden over Belmont turf
October 15, 2004
www.nybreds.com
Two year-old filly HALF HEAVEN, making her second career start, broke her maiden today against state-bred fillies in an 8-1/2-furlong race run over Belmont Park's Widener turf course. Owned by the partnership of David Cassidy and Edward Lipton, the two-year-old bay filly is trained by Gary Contessa, who gave a "leg-up" to journeyman jockey Aaron Gryder. Half Heaven was bred by David Cassidy, who qualified for a $5,040 breeder's award, and is the from the first New York foal crop of Regal Classic. A field of 10-fillies went to the post.
Lauren's Charm went to the front followed by Fighting Speedy and She's All Talk in second and third, respectively, as Half Heaven was rated in fifth-position while down along the hedges. Setting pokey fractions of 24.4, 49.4 and 1:15 seconds to the three-quarter pole, Lauren's Charm continued on the lead with She's All Talk racing in second as they arrived at the top of the stretch. Half Heaven advanced steadily along the rail before angling off the rail to the middle of the track and once straightened for home began to eat away at the lead, gaining control in deep stretch to win by æ-lengths. Ms Homer Point, who trailed the field at the three-quarter pole, made an impressive stretch run through the stretch winning a narrow nose decision over Lauren's Charm to finish second. Final time was 1:45.1 seconds.
