Alice Marble takes advantage of clean trip in Irish O'Brien Stakes
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Alice Marble won her second consecutive stakes, and fourth of her 15-race career, in Friday’s $98,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at Santa Anita, avoiding the troubled trip that disrupted Rose Maddox’s rally on the turn.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Alice Marble ($2.80) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.95, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of 9-2 Rose Maddox, who was checked sharply by jockey Hector Berrios. Rose Maddox was between the rail and pacesetter Feeling Grazeful when she ran out of running room.
The first two finishers are owned and were bred by Nick Alexander. Alice Marble is trained by Phil D’Amato. Steve Miyadi trains Rose Maddox.
Alice Marble stalked Feeling Grazeful through early fractions of 22.36 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.56 for a half-mile. Alice Marble took the lead with a quarter-mile remaining and put away a brief threat from 3-1 Taming the Tigress.
After the trouble on the turn, Berrios moved Rose Maddox three wide in early stretch and reached contention briefly before Alice Marble pulled away.
Rose Maddox finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Taming the Tigress, who was 5 1/4 lengths clear of Feeling Grazeful in a field of four.
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The race was scheduled for the hillside turf course, but moved to dirt on Friday morning by track officials. Santa Anita sustained approximately three inches of rain on Tuesday and early Wednesday.
Big Summer, winner of the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint in January, and Shocking Grey were withdrawn early Friday.
Alice Marble, a 6-year-old mare by Grazen, has won seven races and earned $470,880. Earlier this year, she was third in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint and won the Spring Fever Stakes at six furlongs on dirt for statebred fillies and mares on Feb. 19.
D’Amato suggested after the race that Alice Marble could start around two turns this spring. Last spring, Alice Marble won her only career start at a mile in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes for statebred fillies and mares on turf. The same race is May 28 this year.
“I keep wanting to stretch her out,” D’Amato said. “I’ve got to find some race long to take a shot in. She’s got that nice tactical speed and can carry it. I think she’ll appreciate the two turns.”
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