by Myra Lewyn

Tropical Storm Hanna drenched the Mid-Atlantic region on Saturday, but inclement weather and the rain-drenched track at Delaware Park were not enough to thwart Sweep Hope, who held back a strong rally from Cash’s Girl to win the $205,000 Endine Stakes (G3).

The three-year-old Lemon Drop Kid filly won by a half-length under Gabriel Saez and covered six furlongs in 1:10.07 on a sealed sloppy track to earn her first graded stakes victory for owner High Bank Syndicate.

Sweet Hope was making her first start against older foes and first on an off track in the Endine. She was sent off the 8-to-5 favorite after finishing a distant second behind champion Indian Blessing in the Test Stakes (G1) on August 2 at Saratoga Race Course.

Sweet Hope appeared eager to race as she dueled with Hungarian Boatbaby along the inside through a solid opening quarter in :22.12. 

Sweet Hope gained a half-length lead through a half-mile in :45.12 before opening a  1 1/2-length advantage in the lane. Stakes winner Cash’s Girl launched a strong bid from fourth in early stretch, moved up between Hungarian Boatbaby and Graeme Six on the outside, and sliced into Sweet Hope’s margin, but she could not overhaul the winner.

Stakes winner Hungarian Boatbaby hung on for third in the seven-horse field, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Grade 3 winner Graeme Six. 

Sweet Hope has capably handled several steps up in class since joining the barn of trainer Larry Jones this spring. She finished seven lengths behind a dominant Indian Blessing in the Test after scoring a front-running, three-length win the Beautiful Day Stakes on June 23 at Delaware Park in her first start for Jones.

The dark bay or brown filly, bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, began her career last year in England for trainer Kevin Ryan. She posted a decisive five-length triumph on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Lingfield Park, her only win in seven starts in England.

Sent to trainer Steve Sherman in Northern California, she won her United States debut on April 13 on the synthetic surface at Bay Meadows Race Course. She subsequently posted a fourth-place finish in the Railbird Stakes (G3) on the synthetic Cushion Track surface at Hollywood Park before she was shipped east to Jones.

Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner High Heeled Hope, by Salt Lake, is the dam of Sweet Hope, who has won four of 12 career starts and earned $242,209.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor