Gimme a Nother gains first North American win with John C. Mabee Stakes
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Gimme a Nother won for the first time in North America in Saturday’s Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar, giving Maryland-based trainer Graham Motion a sweep of the track’s leading summertime races for fillies and mares on turf.
The Motion-trained Heredia won the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes on Aug. 9.
Gimme a Nother ($6.80) closed from third in a field of nine in the $252,000 Mabee to win for the eighth time in her 12th start. She was a two-time Group 1 winner in South Africa in March and April 2024.
In the Mabee, Gimme a Nother was the second choice in the betting behind 7-10 Medoro.
Jockey Juan Hernandez had Gimme a Nother in a tracking position behind the 21-1 outsider Hopeful, who set a slow pace of 24.11 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.01 for a half-mile.
Gimme a Nother and Medoro moved into contention on the final turn, the two quickly taking command of the race in early stretch. Gimme a Nother led by a half-length with a furlong remaining and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Medoro.
“I was trying to save ground and wait for the quarter-pole,” Hernandez said. “I asked her and she won the race.”
Gimme a Nother ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.55 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
Medoro was favored on the strength of a win in the restricted Osunitas Stakes at a mile on turf on July 20 in her first start of the year, and a consistent record of top-three finishes in leading races in 2024.
Medoro, ridden by Umberto Rispoli for trainer Peter Eurton, was well positioned in the final three furlongs of the Mabee, but could not keep pace with Gimme a Nother.
“We had every opportunity to run her down,” Eurton said of Gimme a Nother. “We just didn’t.”
Mission of Joy (20-1) finished third, followed by Public Assembly, Hang the Moon, Mahina, Baltic Fire, Hopeful and Kentucky Gal. Mission of Joy, Public Assembly and Hang the Moon are trained by Phil D’Amato, who also started Kentucky Gal. Hang the Moon won the 2024 Mabee Stakes.
Gimme a Nother, a 5-year-old mare by the More than Ready stallion Gimmethegreenlight, has earned $423,773. The Mabee Stakes was her fifth start since she joined Motion’s stable in 2024. She was second in three of her first four starts, including a head loss in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine on July 20.
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