R Holiday Mood wins Miss Preakness Pink Warrior

PIMLICO, Md. - R Holiday Mood took the lead in the stretch and held off the furious late charge of Strike the Moon to win the $75,000 Miss Preakness Pink Warrior Stakes at Pimlico Friday.

Ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Todd Pletcher, the 3-year-old daughter of Trippi completed the six-furlong distance over the fast main track in 1:12.12.

Velazquez said “She really surprised me. I didn’t think she was going to be that fast. I was going to break a little bit slow and let her come back. What happened is that she broke with the other horse (Final Mesa) and I took advantage of that. The other horse was pretty fast and I thought she was the horse to beat. I had to stick with her once she broke like that.”

R Holiday Mood won by a neck with Bold Affair just three-quarter of a length back in third.

Trainer Pletcher said “Looking at her, I always thought she was a fast filly that would show speed when she stretched out. The only time we sprinted her was on a sloppy track that I don’t think she appreciated. I felt good when she broke and put herself in a good position. She gutted it out. We supplemented her, but we weren’t really thinking about it until she breezed on Saturday.”

R Holiday Mood has won three of five starts, including the Out Ruled Stakes at Aqueduct in March, and was paid $11.20 to win.