Dubai Majesty gets up to win Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Dubai Majesty ran down an improbable longshot to post the richest victory in her rags-to-riches career Saturday in the 30th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.

With Jamie Theriot aboard, the 6-year-old Dubai Majesty got a terrific outside stalking trip when finally getting the best of Old Religion, a 69-1 shot who led from the start of the six-furlong Polytrack race. The winning margin was three-quarters of a length, with Informed Decision, the 7-5 favorite and defending champion in both the TCA and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, rallying belatedly to be third, just another neck back in a field of nine.

Trainer Bret Calhoun said he was unsure afterward whether Dubai Majesty would run back at Churchill Downs in the Nov. 5 BC Filly-Mare Sprint, for which the TCA served as a Win and You’re In Event. The mare’s owners, Martin Racing Stable and Dan Morgan, would have to put up a 9-percent supplementary fee, or $90,000, to run her.

Old Time Religion, with Jimmy Graham up, shot to the lead from her outside post, turning back Waccamaw and Dr. Zic as they straightened for home. But Dubai Majesty wasn’t nearly as easy, and with Theriot putting her to a steady drive, she edged away for her 11th victory from 33 career starts.

Dubai Majesty returned $11 as third choice after finishing in 1:09.81. A Florida-bred by Essence of Dubai, she earned $120,000, lifting her bankroll to $969,243. She once ran for a $25,000 claiming tag before being privately purchased in the summer of 2008 by her current connections.

“This mare has been really, really good to us,” said Calhoun. “She did everything right again today.”

Julien Leparoux, who rode Informed Decision, said he was happy with the way his mount finished and that the seven-furlong distance of the Filly-Mare Sprint should be more suitable. “She leveled off very nice down the lane for me,” said Leparoux.

Champagne d’Oro, winner of the Grade 1 Acorn and Grade 1 Test and the only 3-year-old in the field, finished fourth as the 4-1 second choice.