FRANKLIN, Ky. – A year ago, Joel Rosario rode Vergara to victory in the Ladies Marathon at Kentucky Downs. Saturday, Rosario kept Vergara from repeating in the race, rousing Neecie Marie to a powerful closing victory after Vergara had taken a midstretch lead. Vergara came into the Ladies Marathon 2 for 2 over the Kentucky Downs course. Neecie Marie was untested over the course, as was her trainer, the Parx Racing-based Butch Reid. But Reid chose the right race for his filly, while Rosario and his agent, Ron Anderson, chose the right horse. Neecie Marie won by 2 3/4 lengths, much the best on a big payday. The Grade 3 Ladies Marathon, contested over 1 5/16 miles, could have been worth as much as $2 million, but $1 million of the possible purse was available to only Kentucky-breds. Neecie Marie was bred by John Marshall in Pennsylvania, and she took home $595,200 from a $1.3 million pot for owner Michael Milam. :: Kentucky Downs Package Available Now - Get All Access PPs, Picks, Players Guide for just $20! “Better than pocket change,” Reid quipped. It will take more than pocket change, $100,000, to make Neecie Marie eligible for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, a race in which she merits a spot but to which she is not yet nominated. Her connections will have to ponder the payment after Neecie Marie dominated eight rivals on a cool, clear, windy Saturday in far southern Kentucky. Neecie Marie ran somewhat below form in the Diana Stakes in July but had turned in strong performances her other three starts this year. She finished a good second behind Didia in the New York Stakes, and on Aug. 11 was third the behind high-class mares Moira and Fev Rover at Colonial Downs in the Beverly D. Stakes, which unfolded at a crawling pace that compromised late-running Neecie Marie. Reid entered the 4-year-old filly in the Aug. 31 Flower Bowl at Saratoga but wanted Neecie Marie to have another week between starts. Thus, horse and trainer made their first trip to Franklin, Ky., where Neecie Marie did what she apparently does all the time – settle into her new home and start eating. This filly looks nothing like a horse who has made multiple hot-weather ships during an excellent campaign that began May 11. Reid said Neecie Marie got off the van earlier this week, walked into her stall, and soon displayed her typically strong appetite. “She’s definitely a good doer,” said Reid. Angel Nadeshiko, who had threatened to take out half the paddock crowd while awaiting the call for riders up, quickly set sail for the early lead in the Ladies Marathon, one circuit around the firm, fast-playing Kentucky Downs course. Ireland shipper Greenfinch broke poorly but soon ranged up the track the pace from the inside, Vergara outside her in a stalking position and Neecie Marie, a little keen in the early stages, eighth of nine. Few jockeys can switch a horse off like Rosario, and before a quarter mile had been run, Neecie Marie had relaxed. Up front, Angel Nadeshiko went 25.16 into the wind, then got a half in 48.16 and three quarters in 1:11.64. Frankie Dettori, aboard Greenfinch, tried for an early move around the far turn inside Angel Nadeshiko, got shut off, and was kept in by Tyler Gaffalione on Vergara, who travelled smoothly and easily took the lead in upper stretch. Rosario saved ground through nearly the entire sweeping turn, eventually edging Neecie Marie, who was loaded, outside the lead pack and into the clear. Reid said that when the filly got outside, his confidence swelled – and for good reason. Neecie Marie thundered to the front, switched to her “wrong” lead at the stretch’s final dogleg, but carried her momentum to the wire, a comfortable winner. Vergara stayed on well to hold second by one length over Three Priests, who rallied pluckily up the rail for third at 16-1. Greenfinch managed fourth as the favorite at 2-1 by a few thousand dollars over Chop Chop, who was fifth and angrily kicked out both her hind legs when jockey Flavien Prat went to a right-handed crop in the final half-furlong. Neecie Marie, by Cross Traffic out of Lode Lady, by Posse, won for the sixth time in 14 starts, went over $1 million in earnings, and was timed in 2:07.16. She paid $10.02, a generous price on a filly who still appeared to be improving and had kept better company than any of her opponents. “I think Joel just did a great job, had her right where we wanted her. I think the anxious moments were probably coming into the race, because the track had been so speed favoring,” Reid said. Closers dominated the first half of Saturday’s program at Kentucky Downs. Neecie Marie and Rosario overpowered everyone in front of her in the Ladies Marathon. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.