Off Limits rallies powerfully to win Matriarch

DEL MAR, Calif. – Off Limits has become a dangerous mare this year when racing behind rivals.

“She sees horses in front of her, and she wants to beat them,” jockey Joel Rosario said.

The mare’s skill left Rosario confident when Off Limits was last of 11 with three furlongs remaining in Sunday’s Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar. Rosario found running room at a vital time and guided Off Limits to a one-length win in the $302,070 race.

“She has a good turn of foot,” Rosario said. “I wanted to get my spot, and she gave me what she had.”

Off Limits was racing in 10th, about five lengths behind Hawksmoor, with a quarter-mile remaining. Rosario chose an inside path in the stretch as opposed to a wide rally.

“It looked like they were going a good pace,” he said. “I let her settle and get in a good spot. I took a chance to go inside because there were too many horses outside.”

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Off Limits ran a mile in 1:34.37, winning her Grade 1 debut for owner Martin Schwartz and trainer Chad Brown. The Matriarch was Brown’s 10th Grade 1 win on turf this year.

Off Limits caught an unlucky Hawksmoor, a 12-1 shot who led by two lengths with a furlong remaining. Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Hawksmoor stalked pacesetter Miss Julia Star through fractions of 23.40 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.09 for a half-mile before taking the lead with about three furlongs remaining.

“I was pretty happy with where she was,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said of Hawksmoor. “I think Julien timed it right. It was a great performance.”

Insta Erma, a 14-1 outsider, finished third, followed by Cambodia, Lull, Rubilinda, Belvoir Bay, Kitten’s Roar, Pretty Girl, Thundering Sky and Miss Julia Star. Cambodia, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf here on Nov. 4, was the 5-2 favorite. She was third in the stretch and was beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

Off Limits, by Mastercraftsman, has won 7 of 17 starts and earned $634,680. She has won three consecutive stakes, a streak that began with the Grade 3 Nobel Damsel Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 23 and the Grade 3 Athenia Stakes there on Oct. 28.