Highway Harmony sets course record in John Hettinger Stakes win

Highway Harmony turned the final stakes race at Aqueduct Racetrack into a record run, going gate-to-wire in the John Hettinger Stakes and stopping the clock in 1:06.44 for 6 furlongs on firm turf. The 6-year-old mare won by 2½ lengths over Sweet Brown Sugar, with Soloshot another 3¼ lengths back in third, and her time lowered the previous course mark of 1:06.73 set by Outlaw Kid in 2024.

Edgard Zayas sent Highway Harmony straight to the front, and she never relinquished control under 124 pounds for trainer Amelia Green. NYRA timed the quarter in 21.33 seconds, the half in 42.89 and five furlongs in 54.37.

The win came in her first stakes attempt and extended her winning streak to four. It also marked a sharp climb for a mare who was purchased for $50,000 in May from the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale and has moved quickly from claiming company into stakes form for Lucky Hat Racing, Fugget About It Racing Stables and Sportsmen Stable. By Mo Town out of Tweet Street, by Quality Road, she gave her connections a New York stakes winner.

The 18th running of the John Hettinger Stakes was the final stakes race ever run at Aqueduct Racetrack. The historic South Ozone Park oval opened on September 27, 1894, and live racing ended after the June 28 card, with simulcasting continuing through Monday, September 7. NYRA will consolidate its operations to the new Belmont Park, scheduled to open on September 18.

The crowd at Closing Weekend was 10,794 fans. The John Hettinger Stakes was established in 2009 at Belmont Park to honor Hettinger, who was born in Pawling, New York, in 1933 and died there in 2008 after a career that included expanding Akindale Farm to 800 acres and championing thoroughbred aftercare and anti-slaughter efforts. Sunday Girl won the 2025 edition in 1:07.76.