Way to Be Marie adds another local win in Tom Benson Memorial

NEW ORLEANS – Way to Be Marie, winless from six starts at other venues, won for the third time in five Fair Grounds starts landing the $150,000 Tom Benson Memorial Stakes here Saturday.

Closing near the rail under Florent Geroux, Way to Be Marie hit the front in the final furlong and drew away to a 1 1/4-length victory over Tufani. Tufani, closing nearly 10 paths from the fence, had momentum at the furlong grounds but finished on her wrong lead and could not match Way to Be Marie’s kick. Strikingly Spun finished third in this turf route for older fillies and mares. Second choice Fun With Flags got a perfect trip but came up empty finishing sixth.

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Rob Atras trains Way to Be Marie for Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables, and Way to Be Marie’s local turf mark now stands at 5-3-1-1. A winner last Fair Grounds meet of a maiden and first-level allowance, Way to Be Marie had lost four in a row, including two starts here this meet – one rained from turf onto dirt – before breaking through in the Benson.

As 91-1 shot Classic Performer set splits of 23.86 and 43.22 seconds, Geroux had Way to Be Marie sitting sixth along the fence, and there he stayed until the three-sixteenths pole. With a gaping hole in front of her, Way to Be Marie surged forward, comfortably made the lead, and won easily, clocking 1:43.03 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm course. Way to Be Marie paid $6 as the favorite.

By Not This Time out of the Henrythenagivator mare Woman of the World, Way to Be Marie was bred by William Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo.

The Fair Grounds meet concludes Sunday. Way to Be Marie will have to try and win elsewhere.

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