Scolara gets stakes victory in Marion County

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Scolara overcame a slow start to register the first stakes victory of her career, a 2 1/4-length triumph over Pay Wright in Sunday's Marion County Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Scolara, a 4-year-old daughter of Quiet American, was reserved at the rear of the eight-horse field after breaking a step slowly under jockey Kent Desormeaux. Scolara angled out to commence her rally on the far turn, overtook Pay Wright in late stretch, and won going away. Quiet Meadow rallied mildly to finish another length back in third.

Scolara covered a mile in 1:34.42 over a firm course and paid $4.20. She is trained by Bill Mott for the Haras Santa Maria de Araras.

"We told Kent to just let her settle and find a spot and make a run when she's ready," said Mott's assistant Ken McCarthy. "She's been a bit unlucky not to have won a stakes before."