Dawnie Macho proves first win was no fluke

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - In her debut, Dawnie Macho beat maidens at Arlington Park by five lengths and set a track record of 51.16 seconds for 4 1/2 furlongs.

The performance was good enough to merit a private purchase by Gary and Cecil Barber, who turned the filly over to trainer John Sadler. Sunday, in her California debut, Dawnie Macho made the investment look even better, winning the $100,000 for 2-year-old fillies over six furlongs.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Dawnie Macho ($7) led throughout and held off a late surge from Izshelegal, a 20-1 outsider and first-time starter, to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:10.75. The time did not result in a track record, but the victory puts Dawnie Macho on course for the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 6.

Sadler said he thought that Dawnie Macho could make the lead, but feared that the absence of a steady schedule of workouts in mid-June could make for a close finish. Dawnie Macho did not have a published workout from June 10 to July 5.

"It almost went like we thought in the sense that we were one work short going in there and she could get a little late," Sadler said. "This should set her up for the races" at Del Mar.

Dawnie Macho set an early pace of 22.41 and 46.04 seconds, and led by as much as 2 1/2 lengths in the stretch. Izshelegal was last in the field of eight after a quarter-mile, and finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Belleofthebridle, the 2-1 favorite. She'll Heir, who won the Cinderella Stakes here on June 9 in the first stakes of the year for the 2-year-old filly division, finished fourth, beaten three lengths.

Dawnie Macho, who is by Macho Uno, previously raced for Wayne Granger and trainer Wayne Catalano. In her two wins, she has earned $76,800.