Hot Fudge denies Dr B and wins the Interborough (Chelsea Durand)
By Mary Eddy – NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— KEM Stables’ Hot Fudge notched back-to-back stakes victories with a determined score in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Interborough, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Linda Rice and guided to victory by Kendrick Carmouche, Hot Fudge’s victory came on the heels of a similarly gutsy win in the six-furlong Garland of Roses on December 9 here. The Liam’s Map dark bay once again demonstrated heart when turning back the game multiple graded stakes-winner Dr B to score by a half-length after battling strongly down the lane.
“She dug in. She’s really fast and pretty versatile,” said Rice. “She’s won at six [furlongs], she’s won at a mile. She has a lot of try.”
White Chocolate broke sharply from the inside under Jose Gomez and was asked to take charge over Hot Fudge and Dr B through an opening quarter-mile in 22.95 seconds over the muddy and sealed footing. Hot Fudge kept close watch in second down the backstretch as Dr B maintained outside position in third in the same path as the Rice-trained favorite Ain’t Broke, who trailed in last 3 1/2 lengths back under patient handling from Eric Cancel.
Approaching the turn, Hot Fudge was coaxed by Carmouche as White Chocolate toiled along the rail and began to backpedal when called on by Gomez. Dr B launched her bid around rivals with Ain’t Broke following her before opting to take the widest path around to make it three horses across the course after the half-mile in 46.67.
Hot Fudge took charge heading into the stretch as Ain’t Broke and Dr B made up ground down the center of the track to give serious threat to Hot Fudge’s precarious advantage. Dr B surged in between rivals and appeared to have the momentum to sweep past Hot Fudge, but the latter dug in when met with the challenge and edged clear in the final strides to cross the wire first in a final time of 1:25.95.
Ain’t Broke settled for show honors five lengths back of Dr B with White Chocolate completing the superfecta and Mosienko and Secret Love completing the order of finish. Rosebug and Self Isolation were scratched.
Carmouche, who rode Hot Fudge for the first time in the afternoon last time out in the Garland of Roses, said the talented mare was game enough to overcome a pace scenario that favored her stablemate.
“Linda asked me what I was thinking and I told her that I just wanted to break fast and let the one-horse [White Chocolate] go and just make the first run,” said Carmouche. “I knew the other horse [Ain’t Broke] was going to come running but I wanted to see if she could just carry them around there. She just stayed right with them and kept going. Hot Fudge really got me to the winner’s circle today. I wanted to win, but she wanted to win more than me.”
Rice noted Hot Fudge could potentially target the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on February 17 at Laurel Park next.
Bred in Kentucky by Edwin Anthony, Hot Fudge was a $235,000 purchase at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and subsequently graduated at second asking in September of that year at Belmont Park. She earned her first black type when a narrowly-defeated second to Mystic Eyes in the six-furlong Stewart Manor in November 2021 ahead of a more than year-long respite that ended last January with a triumphant return in a six-furlong allowance.
Hot Fudge, who has hit the board in 7-of-8 starts since returning to the races, banked $82,500 in victory and improved her lifetime record to 12-7-1-1. She returned $8.80 on a $2 win ticket.
Butch Reid, Jr., trainer of Cash is King and LC Racing’s Dr B, had previously indicated the Interborough would be the career finale for the 6-year-old daughter of Liam’s Map, who is slated to be bred to 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline next month. She retires with a 23-6-8-2 record, highlighted by back-to-back victories in the Grade 3 Go for Wand here, two additional graded placings, and earnings of $613,240.
“She ran tough. She always does,” said Reid, Jr. “You have to love that filly.”
Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with a 10-race card featuring the $100,000 Say Florida Sandy in Race 4 and the $100,000 Rego Park in Race 9. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.
