SHE'S lived up to her name in recent months but on Monday at Bathurst Paceway there were no troubles for Misdemeanor in her racing debut.
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The Sam Hewitt-trained and driven Misdemeanor ($8) made a mid-race move in the HRNSW Guaranteed Two Year Old Pace (1,730 metres) and had enough in the tank to hold off another debutant, High Rollin Belmer ($51), by a neck in a duel to the line.
Misdemeanor, a Roll With Joe filly out of former Breeders Challenge 2YO finalist Ima Gucci Girl, wasn't meant to leave her run to this Friday's Gold Tiara heats this late but she's looking up for the challenge following the gritty win.
"She trialled a few weeks back and she was supposed to start here last Wednesday, which would give her nine days between that and the heat, but she got a bit crook after the trials and we had to get her right again," Hewitt said.
"It's not ideal having a five-day turnaround to the heat but she's here now and we'll see how she goes."
Courtesy of the widest start on the front row Hewitt was happy to stay out of the early battle for the lead.
That fight was won by Ellen Shannon ahead of race favourite York Minster ($1.95).
Lady Eupheme was driven forward to take up the front running as the field began the final lap, strung out in single file.
At that point Hewitt peeled out to began a move from the rear of the field.
It would have been a lengthy trip to the front with no cover but that was provided by High Rollin Belmer who also jumped out of the racing line to work ahead.
The slower second quarter of 32.1 made their forward move an easier task.
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High Rollin Belmer drew up beside the leader on the home turn and raced past York Minster at the 200m. She was joined on her outside by Misdemeanor.
The leading pair put distance between themselves and the rest of the field.
Misdemeanor got her neck in front across the closing 50m to win in a mile rate of 2:01.1.
York Minster was 7.5m away in third just ahead of one of Bernie Hewitt's three hopes in the race, Heidi Boom.
"She's always showed a lot of ability but she's been hard to deal with ever since we've broken her in," Hewitt said.
"We got a nice cart up today. She's done a bit wrong, still running around a bit, but with that race experience under her belt now she should race better in the heat."
Misdemeanor will be Hewitt's only entrant across the Gold Crown Carnival's feature events.
"I've mostly got yearlings at the moment with three race horses. She's one of them, and she'll got to a heat, while Muscle Mach will go into an honouree heat on the Friday as well," Hewitt said.