Maryquitecontrary improves record to 6 for 7 in Inside Information
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Cinderella story continued for Maryquitecontrary and her regular rider Luca Panici after the locally based pair combined their talents to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Inside Information Stakes by a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths over Colorful Mischief Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The victory was the sixth in as many starts for Maryquitecontrary with Panici aboard and her first graded stakes win.
Maryquitecontrary did not launch her career until June of her 3-year-old campaign in 2022. Her only setback to date, a second-place finish behind Last Leaf in the Azalea Stakes, came in just her second lifetime start and without Panici in the saddle. She has gradually risen up the class ladder, winning the restricted Sheer Drama for Florida-breds on Sept. 10 and more recently the one-mile Rampart Stakes despite a very wide trip in her 3-year-old finale on Dec. 31.
Maryquitecontrary did not have the best of trips again when cutting back to seven panels for the Inside Information, her eventful journey beginning when she was pinched back to last shortly after the break. Maryquitecontrary, a 4-year-old daughter of First Dude, advanced outside horses leaving the backstretch, swung about seven to eight paths wide continuing her bid into the stretch before finishing full of run down the center of the course to readily overtake the tiring leader Fire on Time and win going away.
Colorful Mischief, a troubled second behind Maryquitecontrary in the Rampart, also lagged well back during the early stages. She slipped through along the rail rallying through the stretch and was clearly second best while no threat again to the winner.
The pacesetting Fire on Time settled into the stretch with a seemingly comfortable advantage before coming up empty leaving the furlong grounds, finishing third.
Grade 1 winner Obligatory, the 4-5 favorite, failed to respond when hustled early by jockey Jose Ortiz and was never a serious factor, ultimately finishing sixth after dropping back to last at one point on the turn.
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Maryquitecontary is trained by Joseph Catanese III for owner-breeder Rodney Lundock. Her final time over the fast track was 1:23.64 seconds. She earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure and paid $7.20.
“She keeps getting better and better,” said Catanese. “She’s a pleasure. We’ll keep finding races for her here.”
“I was squeezed after the break,” said Panici. “She was a little bit nervous and lost a half-length after the break but they were running in front and I was sitting confident like always with her. When I got to the clear she started to kick, and she kicked until the end. She’s improving race after race.”
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