Streaking Stellify prevails in Ladies Marathon
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Stellify displayed a liking for the esoteric Kentucky Downs course, and for a route of ground, by winning an allowance-optional claiming race going 1 1/2 miles on Aug. 28. She confirmed those affinities as she wheeled back for a front-running 2 3/4-length score in Saturday's Grade 3, $2 million Ladies Marathon Invitational at 1 5/16 miles.
Stellify ($6.22), a 4-year-old daughter of Justify trained by Brad Cox for WinStar Farm, has now won four straight races. After finishing third and second in two maiden attempts at Fair Grounds early this year, she got her breakthrough maiden score in May at Churchill Downs, then followed up with an allowance victory a month later. She was fresh for her first start in more than two months, an allowance-optional claiming race at Kentucky Downs that she took in front-running fashion, and wheeled back for her stakes debut.
"She won fairly easy last week," Cox said. "We took her up to Saratoga with the intention of running in a two other-than, and it didn't go. At that point, we decided to just train up to this. We had a fresh horse when we got here to start the meet."
Stellify, with Florent Geroux in the irons, used front-running tactics again on Saturday. On a course officially rated good, but which seemed to have plenty of give in it following Friday and overnight rain, she got away with opening fractions of 26.10 seconds, 49.57 seconds, and 1:13 flat.
Miwa, also wheeling back after a local allowance-optional win on Aug. 28, made a bid around the far turn and appeared the danger in upper stretch, but Stellify had plenty in reserve and kicked clear again.
“It was pretty simple," Geroux said. "She broke very good for me and I was able to make the lead very easily. She just really enjoys the course, especially when they go downhill, she really extends her stride and I created a little bit of separation there. She really likes the course a lot."
Wrapped up in the final yards, Stellify finished in 2:06.84.
Way to Be Marie made a belated bid to be second, edging Miwa by three-quarters of a length.
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