Modernstone comes with huge rally to win Ladies Marathon

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Modernstone rallied from well back to pull a 29-1 stunner and give trainer Kelly Rubley her first stakes Saturday in the $140,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon.

Rubley, based at Fairhill in northern Maryland, was not on hand for the victory, which came when Rafael Hernandez urged on his mount in the final furlong to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Courtesan. Naples Gold was third, and One More Strike was fourth in a field of eight fillies and mares.

Modernstone, owned by Wachtel Stable, Brous Stable, and Gary Barber, returned $61.20 as the longest shot in the lineup after finishing the once-around distance of 1 5/16 miles in 2:13.12 over a firm course.

As a British-bred 5-year-old mare, Modernstone was competing for only one-third of a potential $300,000 purse because she was ineligible for $200,000 in Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund bonuses. She earned a winner’s share of $60,140. Likewise, Courtesan is a Florida-bred and was ineligible for the full purse.

Naples Gold led most of the way, pressed closest by Courtesan, before Modernstone, sixth for much of the way, angled out with her winning move down the long Kentucky Downs stretch. Dido, the 2-1 favorite, had no mishap when finishing last.

Modernstone was making her first start for Rubley after having been trained on this continent by Mark Casse and Bill Mott following her importation from England in spring 2014. It was her fourth win in 22 career starts.

The $2 exacta (1-4) paid $472, the $1 trifecta (1-4-7) returned $1,871.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-4-7-3) was worth $638.56.