First-time starter Marquee Miss upsets Arlington-Washington Lassie

It’s not that uncommon for a first-time starting 2-year-old to win an early-season stakes race at a short-sprint distance of five furlongs or less. But a seven-furlong stakes in late August? That’s rare territory, yet debuting Marquee Miss made short work of nine rivals in the $75,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie on Saturday at Arlington.

Racing mid-pack under Manny Esquivel, Marquee Miss came between horses three wide into the stretch, took command in the final 1 1/2 furlongs, and ran out to a three-length victory over Silver Lode. Escalante was third, second choice Venus Valentine was fourth, and 5-2 favorite Inconclusive was a one-paced fourth.

Silver Lode came into the Lassie a once-raced Illinois-bred maiden winner, whose debut victory earned a 38 Beyer Speed Figure, while Escalante had finished second, beaten more than six lengths, in a Presque Isle Downs maiden race, her lone start. Inconclusive didn’t run back to her decent debut win at Arlington, and it’s fair to say the 2015 Lassie won’t go down as a vintage edition.

But credit to trainer Ingrid Mason and owner Joe Ragsdale for guessing as much and debuting Marquee Miss in a race worth nearly four times as much as an Arlington maiden special weight this summer. Esquivel said the filly is smart, and she raced professionally starting for the first time off a string of encouraging morning drills for Mason, who saddled Sarah Sis to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Ballerina on Saturday at Saratoga.

Marquee Miss, by Cowboy Cal out of Marquee, was bred by David Jacobs and purchased at a 2-year-old auction for $20,000. She ran seven furlongs in a moderate 1:24.29 and paid $22 to win.