'America' seeks second win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - World traveler America America will make her third Woodbine start in three weeks Saturday in the $268,250 Mazarine Breeders' Cup Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.

America America has run 11 times in four different countries under the guidance of trainer Frank Mourier. Her lone victory came in her debut in a three-furlong maiden dash April 6 at Gulfstream, where she also finished a close second in the April 24 Mockingbird Stakes.

Mourier then sent America America to Europe, because, he said, there are more opportunities there for 2-year-olds who win their maidens early in the year. She ran in seven stakes across the pond from June 18 to Aug. 13, the first of which was an eighth-place finish in the Group 3 Queen Mary at Ascot.

After running fifth at Newmarket, America America was beaten a head in a five-furlong dash in Germany. She subsequently returned to England, where she placed in each of her next four outings at distances ranging from five furlongs to a mile.

America America was shipped here to contest the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes on Sept. 6, and she overcame traffic problems to finish third in her first try with blinkers and Lasix. Last Sunday against males in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes, she broke slowly and closed for fourth place before being promoted to third by disqualification.

"She's a consistent filly," said Mourier, a native of France. "She enjoys racing, and she tries hard every time. She's been a little bit unlucky."

Also entered in the Grade 2 Mazarine are La Grande Mamma, Do You Love It, Brush With Destiny, and Dream About.

Dream About romped in a seven-furlong maiden special her second time out, earning an 82 Beyer Speed Figure - the highest in the Mazarine field. A daughter of Cherokee Run and stakes winner Social Director, Dream About breezed five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.80 on Sept. 9.

Arosa Farm paid $270,000 for Dream About at a Florida 2-year-olds in training sale in June. "She's a very attractive filly," said trainer Josie Carroll. "She had a good work at the sale."

La Grande Mamma was claimed from her winning debut for $25,000 by trainer Steve Owens, who saddled her for a win in the restricted Nandi Stakes in her next start. La Grande Mamma was heavily favored last time, when she went from six to seven furlongs in the Muskoka Stakes, but she could only manage second after running near the lead through slow fractions.