Living The Life takes Masters for second time
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
One year in the life of Living The Life apparently has not changed her at all, unless the 5-year-old mare, an Irish-bred imported from England in 2014, is better now than then.
Returning to the site of her biggest win, Living The Life won the Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Masters for the second year in a row on Monday. Last season, she defeated Disco Barbie by 1 1/2 lengths; this year, her victim was even-money favorite Leigh Court, whom Living The Life ran down in the homestretch, rewarding her backers with a $6.80 win payoff.
“It was really nice to see her get back to her best form,” said Gary Mandella, who trains Living The Life for HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing. “Her two races here she showed how much heart she has.”
Living The Life had lost three straight races before Monday, but none had come on a synthetic surface, and that is where the Footstepsinthesand mare excels. She was campaigned mainly on synthetic surfaces overseas and, with her win Monday, is unbeaten in four synthetic-track starts in the U.S.
Leigh Court broke in midpack but comfortably made the front within a half-furlong, setting splits of 22.94 and 45.41 seconds under Gary Boulanger while tracked by Cactus Kris. Joe Bravo, riding Living The Life, sat patiently in fourth or fifth for the first half-mile, eventually splitting Cactus Kris and Nellie Cashman and diving to the rail to make a final run. Living The Life closed relentlessly on Leigh Court, who tried to battle back but was headed at the sixteenth pole and succumbed to the winner.
“When she came to Leigh Court, you could see her dig back in, but my filly dug in just a little bit harder, and I’m so proud of her,” Mandella said.
Living The Life ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta Footings surface in 1:15.17, joining Groupie Doll and Informed Decision as repeat winners of the Masters. Miss Mischief, the third choice in the betting, rallied belatedly at a distance short of her best to get third in a formful race.
Living The Life, a winner in nine of her 27 races, tried the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last year, but now it seems clear to her connections that she can’t produce her best form on dirt, and Mandella said after the race he had “absolutely no idea” where Living The Life would next race.