John Mabee Stakes likely next for Fahan Mura

DEL MAR, Calif. - Fahan Mura is expected to start in the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes on Sept. 1 after winning her first stakes in Friday’s $82,125 Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar.

Paradise Woods, the two-time Grade 1 winner in 2017, faces an uncertain future after finishing a quiet sixth in her turf debut in the Osunitas.

Fahan Mura ($15.40) led throughout the Osunitas at 1 1/16 miles on turf, winning by 1 3/4 lengths under jockey Edwin Maldonado without facing a serious challenge.

“I was hoping that would happen,” trainer Vladimir Cerin said.

Cerin said Fahan Mura is unlikely to start in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 4, making the $200,000 Mabee at 1 1/8 miles on turf more likely.

“We’ll probably run in the last one, he said.

Cerin expressed doubt whether the turf course would play as friendly to frontrunners at the end of the meeting as it did on Friday, the third day of the season. The meeting ends on Sept. 3.

“At the end of the meet, you won’t win on the lead,” he said. “The turf course changes.”

Owned by David Clark and Bran Jam Stable, Fahan Mura, a 4-year-old by English Channel, has won 7 of 18 starts and earned $232,590. She was claimed for $40,000 at Saratoga last summer.

Paradise Woods, who won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes in 2017, raced on turf for the first time in the Osunitas in an effort to revive her career after two losses earlier this year. She was well placed on the backstretch, but faded from contention in the final quarter-mile.

Trainer Richard Mandella said he was left puzzled by the loss.

“We’ll check her out,” he said.