1999 Hempstead Handicap

Left to set her own early pace under Pat Day, 7-5 favorite Sister Act held off Beautiful Pleasure by a half-length after a long stretch drive to win yesterday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Hempstead Handicap for fillies and mares at Belmont Park. Catinca, the 8-5 second choice, finished another 9 1/4 lengths back in third.
In their last start, the Shuvee Handicap here May 22, Sister Act and Beautiful Pleasure dueled through blazing fractions, setting the race up for Catinca’s late run.
But in the Hempstead, jockey Jorge Chavez took Beautiful Pleasure back off the pace in third allowing Day, who replaced Calvin Borel in the saddle, to cruise along on an uncontested lead through reasonable splits of :23.1 for the first quarter-mile and :46.1 for the half.
Beautiful Pleasure went up to challenge Sister Act turning for home after six furlongs in 1:09.4 and those two ran as a team to the wire, with Sister Act holding her safe through the final furlong. Catinca rallied on the turn but flattened out in the lane.

[@joelawrence2097]

Ty so much for this vid i asked and u hot it im so grateful and btw same yr we were second in apple blossom to banshee breeze and won the oaklawn bc now the azeri so any vids with sister act in 98 and 99 and again my thanks peace

[@flamespotter]

Do you have Santa Anita's 1998 San Marino Handicap? Won by Storm Trooper!

[@Jean0987654321]

Track announcer: Tom Durkin