Vasilika looks for repeat in John Mabee Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – In the year since Vasilika won the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar, she has won two Grade 1 races and four other graded stakes to solidify her position at the fore of California’s female turf division.

There has not been a repeat winner of the John Mabee Stakes since Flawlessly won three consecutive runnings from 1992-94 when the race was known as the Ramona Handicap. Vasilika will be favored to win Saturday’s $200,000 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Last year, Vasilika was 4-1 in the Mabee, her first win in a graded stakes. Despite her outstanding campaign in the last 12 months, Vasilika will have ample competition Saturday with nine rivals.

“We haven’t scared anyone off,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Yet Vasilika is the mare to fear, even though she was third as the 9-10 favorite in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles here Aug. 3, rallying to miss by a half-length as the 125-pound topweight. The loss ended a four-race winning streak.

Julien Leparoux rode Vasilika for the first time in the Yellow Ribbon, replacing Flavien Prat, who rode at Saratoga that day. Prat is back on Vasilika on Saturday.

“She got started a little late,” Hollendorfer said. “We had no complaints about the ride Julien gave her. She was only beaten a half-length and she carried 125.”

Hollendorfer owns Vasilika with Mark Schlaich, Gatto Racing, and George Todaro. Together, they claimed Vasilika for $40,000 in February 2018. She has since won seven stakes. With Hollendorfer, Vasilika has won 5 of 6 starts at 1 1/8 miles on turf, including the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on May 27 at Santa Anita.

The distance of the Mabee should suit Juliet Foxtrot, who won the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park at 1 3/16 miles in her last start, and Toinette, who closed well to win an allowance race with a $100,000 claiming option at a mile on Aug. 7 in her 2019 debut.

The distance is a question for Ahimsa, who tends to race near the front. She was third in the Gamely after setting the pace and won the restricted Osunitas Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf here July 19.

This will be the first race on turf in more than two years for La Force, who won the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on June 1 at Santa Anita and was a well-beaten third in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at the same distance here July 28.

Juliet Foxtrot, unbeaten in three starts this year since joining trainer Brad Cox’s stable, is the only filly from an out-of-state stable in the Mabee. She led throughout the Modesty on July 13 and closed from fourth in a field of six to win an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 27 at Churchill Downs.

“I like the spacing between the Arlington race and the Mabee,” Cox said.

Juliet Foxtrot, who will be ridden for the first time by Drayden Van Dyke, is best as a stalker, Cox said. The Mabee is her first start in a Grade 2 race.

“I think the key is to get her to shut off,” he said. “She’s a classy filly to be around. She deserves an opportunity to step up. We feel she belongs.”

Toinette was ridden by Prat on Aug. 7. Rafael Bejarano has the mount on Saturday aboard the 4-year-old, who is expected to be a factor in the stretch if she can handle the longer distance.

Trainer Neil Drysdale said her relaxed style of racing should allow Toinette to get the 1 1/8 miles.