Happy Hill Lil posts best career performance on Belmont turf

Handicappers who routinely dismiss runners who have been sidelined for several months have missed a good many opportunities lately, and Happy Hill Lil added to their woes in the fourth race at Belmont Park yesterday.

In her first start since November 6, the 5-year-old New York-bred daughter of Handsome Mike – dismissed at 8-1 – came from off the pace with Joel Rosario and captured a $60,000 starter allowance at six furlongs over the inner turf course. The super jockey settled Happy Hill Lil in fourth place down the backstretch, about three lengths off the leaders, who sped past the furlong markers in :21.80 and :45.13. Rosario sent her up on the outside on the turn and the mare was up in time to win by half a length in 1:08.63, good for an ‘E’ speed figure of 98, 12 points higher than the previous best of her career.

The victory was worth $33,000 for owner/breeder Roger Cimbora Jr. and left Happy Hill Lil on the verge of hitting the century mark at $98,478. She paid $19.80 and gave Handsome Mike his 13th winner of 2022.