LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Cy Fair was too sharp for her own good making her 3-year-old debut in the Limestone Stakes three weeks ago at Keeneland. In the 5 1/2-furlong Mamzelle Stakes on Thursday at Churchill Downs, she was too good for her eight rivals. Much too good, in fact. Beaten into third in the Limestone after getting amped up and pulling jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to the lead, Cy Fair reverted to her preferred stalking style Thursday. She glided into the homestretch full of run, collared Limestone winner Slay the Day just before the eighth pole, and drew away to a one-length win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Mamzelle on turf. The betting public had not lost faith. Favored at 4-5, Cy Fair paid $3.98 while winning for the fourth time in six starts, among her triumphs a one-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. This filly would barely stand taller than a pony, though her short frame has filled out nicely at age 3. She has an electric turn of foot and presence, and can really, really run. “She’s really good,” said George Weaver, who trains Cy Fair for Medallion Racing, Swinbank Sables, Joey Platts, and Mark Stanton. “I’m embarrassed I got her beat twice.” :: Get DRF Kentucky Oaks & Derby Betting Strategies by Marcus Hersh and David Aragona. Full analysis and wager recommendations! It was just part of the process, in the end. After a winning debut, Cy Fair probably raced a little too aggressively in the Bolton Landing last summer at Saratoga, where ehe was run down late by Snow Face Princess, who checked in fifth in the Mamzelle. In the Limestone, her first start since the Breeders’ Cup, Cy Fair, Weaver noted, was really on her toes before the race. She broke sharp, pushed to the lead, and despite Ortiz’s best effort to rein her in, Cy Fair set the pace. “I was fighting her because we don’t want to be there, and I think that hurt me a little bit,” Ortiz said. “Today, there was a little more speed in the race, and it was beautiful for us. She was more comfortable before the race today. We kept her quiet. She broke good, I took a little hold, and she came back to me.” Midnight Martini went for the lead, pressed by Thank You Amy. Ifyousaidso was just behind them down at the rail, which led to her getting sawed off at the half-mile pole, her rider forced to check out of his spot. Slay the Day, the clear second choice and a fast turf sprinter in her own right, broke from the outside and stalked the leading trio from fourth, racing in the clear. When her jockey, John Velazquez, commenced a move coming off the turn, Ortiz, sitting fifth, shadowed it. “She was traveling the whole time. She took me there. I waited and followed the horse I have to beat, bide my time, and tip her out in the stretch,” Ortiz said. Cy Fair took care of the rest. Slightly late to change leads, she did so past the three-sixteenths pole and immediately drew alongside Slay the Day’s flank. Slay the Day responded, pushing forward to stay on terms, but Cy Fair had too much. Two left-handed pops of Ortiz’s crop and she was home. Hen Party finished with interest for third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Slay the Day and 2 1/2 lengths ahead of fourth-place Final Accord, who had to wait for running room at the five-sixteenths pole but was unable to quicken with the top three once clear. Cy Fair zipped 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm course in 1:01.90. Cy Fair is by Not This Time out of Remarqued, by Arch, and was bred in Kentucky by Mark Keller. The filly has gears. “She’s push-button,” Weaver said. “If you want something from her, she’s going to give it to you. She doesn’t want to be in a scrum – doesn’t need to be in a scrum. She’s the perfect stalk-and-pounce horse.” Cy Fair has options for her next start. There’s the $200,000 Soaring Softly over 5 1/2 furlongs on June 7 at Saratoga, and connections will consider a trip to Royal Ascot, Weaver said. Overseas adventures don’t seem unreasonable. Cy Fair, a diminutive filly, looks like she’s up for big challenges. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.