Avenue de France outruns Going Global in John Mabee Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. - The Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares was run at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Saturday. It did not take the entire distance to decide the result.

Avenue de France was urged to the front at the end of the backstretch in an aggressive move by jockey Juan Hernandez, a bold strategy that developed into a winning move.

Avenue de France ($23.80) was clear of six rivals entering the stretch, and by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. She held off a sustained threat from 1-2 favorite Going Global to win by a half-length.

“I saw the opportunity and I took my chance,” Hernandez said. “She was pulling me. It looked like the other guy didn’t want to make a move.

“She started from the three-eighths pole. She showed she is good. You can do that with a good filly.”

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Avenue de France was timed in 1:47.96 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92, which equals her career best. The $251,000 Mabee Stakes was her fifth stakes win and the most prestigious win of her career.

With the second-place finish, Going Global was denied a sweep of the two leading stakes on turf for fillies and mares at Del Mar’s summer meeting. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Going Global won the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap by three lengths on Aug. 13.

On the backstretch of the Mabee, jockey Umberto Rispoli had Going Global in fifth, racing less than three lengths behind pacesetter Park Avenue. When Hernandez moved on Avenue de France, Rispoli was quickly in pursuit on Gloing Global.

“Juan made a good move,” a frustrated D’Amato said. “Umberto was still sleeping.”

Going to Vegas, who won the 2021 Mabee, finished third, followed by Bellamore, Burgoo Alley, Eddie’s New Dream and Park Avenue.

Avenue de France, a 5-year-old French-bred mare by the Selkirk stallion Cityscape, races for the partnership of Convergence Stable, Madaket Stables, Jeff Benowitz, Wonder Stables, and Mathilde Powell. Avenue de France is trained by Mathilde’s husband, Leonard.

Avenue de France, who has won 8 of 22 starts and earned $525,066, had three starts at the Del Mar summer meeting. She won the restricted Osunitas Stakes on July 23 and was a clear second in the Yellow Ribbon.