Fahan Mura wires field in Osunitas

DEL MAR, Calif. - Fahan Mura did as expected and set the pace in Friday’s $82,125 Osunitas Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Del Mar.

Her nine rivals never offered a challenge, including the two-time Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods who faded from second in the first half of the race to finish sixth.

Fahan Mura ($15.40) cruised through the stretch under jockey Edwin Maldonado to win the Osunitas by 1 3-4 lengths over 28-1 Achira. Midnight Crossing, a 7-1 chance, finished third.

The Osunitas, restricted to non-winners of a stakes worth $50,000 or more to the winner, other than state-bred races, at a mile or over this year, was the first stakes win for Fahan Mura, who races for David Clark and Bran Jam Stable and trainer Vladimir Cerin.

A 4-year-old filly by English Channel, Fahan Mura was claimed at Saratoga last summer for $40,000.

Fahan Mura ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:41.10, setting a modest pace of 23.44 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.37 for a half-mile. Maldonado said his confidence increased as the race unfolded.

“She relaxed today,” Maldonado said. “That was the key. When she hit the backstretch, her ears went forward and I knew we had a good shot.”

Fahan Mura has won 7 of 18 starts and earned $232,590.

Compelled finished fourth, and was followed by Fizzy Friday, Paradise Woods, Lynne’s Legacy, Evo Campo, Pantsonfire and Amboseli.

Paradise Woods, who won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes last year, was well-placed to the turn under jockey Flavien Prat before losing contact with the winner. The Osunitas was the first start on turf for Paradise Woods in her 11th start.

“I had a good trip,” Prat said. “She’s just one-paced. She doesn’t have that turn of foot.”

The loss left trainer Richard Mandella puzzled. He accompanied Paradise Woods back to his stable adjacent to the grandstand and watched her cool out.

“I thought she’d take over at the half-mile pole,” Mandella said. “She was happy to gallop around there. I wish I had an answer. We’ll try to figure out where we are. I’ll stay off the turf.”