Hollywood: Mambo Slew rallies to win Miesque

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The experience of a maiden win over a mile on turf at Santa Anita helped Mambo Slew get her first stakes victory in Friday's $100,000 Miesque Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Sent off as the favorite in a field of 11, Mambo Slew rallied from third to win the Grade 3 Miesque for 2-year-old fillies by 1 1/2 lengths over Ticker Tape, an English import.

Mambo Slew ($8.60) ran a mile on turf in 1:36.17. The field's only winner in a one-mile turf race, Mambo Slew gave jockey Mike Smith his third win from his first four mounts in Friday's program.

Smith kept Mambo Slew well behind pacesetter Very Vegas, who tore off to a five-length lead in the first half-mile. Very Vegas, the winner of the Bay Meadows Lassie Stakes over a mile on dirt Nov. 2, set early fractions of 23.54 and 47.01 seconds.

Very Vegas quickly came back to the field on the final turn when Mambo Slew reached contention. Mambo Slew led by a half-length with a furlong remaining and was not threatened late.

Ticker Tape, stakes-placed at Newbury, England, in her last start, rallied from last to finish a half-length in front of Winendynme, who was alongside the winner in early stretch before fading.

Mambo Slew has won 2 of 3 starts and $88,350 for owner Frank Manganero and trainer Patrick Biancone. After finishing fifth in a six-furlong maiden race on dirt at Saratoga Aug. 3, she scored a smart victory in her turf debut at Santa Anita on Oct. 18.

"We were disappointed when she ran the first time," Biancone said. "She didn't like the sand in her face. She's a good turf filly. I think next year she'll be a top filly on turf."