Burning Hedge produced a tour-de-force performance to win the $4-million Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes feature race on Thursday, December 26, 2024, leaving a strong field in her wake.

The filly, bred, owned, and trained by Carl Anderson, crossed the finish line an impressive 8½ lengths ahead of competition in the Futurity contest for native-bred two-year-olds over one mile (1,600m). Burning Hedge won ahead of Lovisa (Robert Halledeen) with
Strong Mind (Reyan Lewis) and Hazelnut (Dane Dawkins) dead-heating for third place as the final time was recorded in 1:41.2.

Anderson revealed that Burning Hedge’s decisive victory was no surprise, given her impressive workout with two of his other top horses.

“We just took her to work with two other of my good horses, and she came up very strong,” Anderson told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

“And after seeing that workout, I was surprised, as that was just an exercise gallop, a fast gallop, and she never did anything else because she did, like, 1:32.2 (seven furlongs) on Tuesday, December 17,” he added.

Anderson admitted that he was initially perplexed by Burning Hedge’s performance, but he wisely decided to take a cautious approach.

“I was kind of confused because she should have gotten a real gallop, but I said let me take it easy as she showed me that she will stay. Three days after, I took her back to the track and gave her a three furlongs and she worked 36.2,” he explained.

With Burning Hedge’s stamina and speed confirmed, Anderson fine-tuned her preparation with a gentle three-furlong gallop just three days before the big race. The strategy paid off, as Burning Hedge delivered a scintillating performance.

Jockey Dick Cardenas, who rode Burning Hedge to victory, credited his patient approach for the win.

“The last time I rode her, I used too much haste and finished second,” Cardenas said. “This time, I just waited and waited on the last three furlongs and took it from there.”

Cardenas’s intimate knowledge of Burning Hedge, gained from riding her every morning, proved invaluable. “I knew her well, I knew when to ask her to run, and I knew what she was going to give me,” he said confidently.

Initially, Burning Hedge trailed the six-horse field, watching as Strong Mind and
Lovisa set the pace. Mr Lee (Matthew Bennett), Danka (Tevin Foster), and Hazelnut followed closely, while Burning Hedge bided her time at the rear.

Burning Hedge continued to maintain her gallop down the backstretch as Strong Mind and Lovisa opened on the field. As the field approached the half-mile turn, Burning Hedge began to make her move, rounding horses before slipping down into third place approaching the distance.

With momentum on her side, she surrounded the field at the top of the lane, full of running. In deep stretch, Burning Hedge turned on the pressure, powering home to a convincing victory.

This was the two-year-old chestnut filly’s second win from five starts. Bred by
Hedge Fund out of the Burning Marque mare Burning Clearance, Burning Hedge’s impressive performance marked her as a talented prospect for the future.