Mean Mary Wires Field to Take Orchid Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Derbe Glass
Mean Mary wins the Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Alex Campbell Jr.'s homebred Mean Mary lived up to her status as even-money favorite March 28 when she led at every point of call to win the $100,000 Orchid Stakes Presented by Rood and Riddle (G3T) at Gulfstream Park over 1 3/8 miles.
Making only the sixth start of her career in Saturday's turf race, Mean Mary blew her 11 competitors away when she broke well under jockey Luis Saez before sprinting to the front to take control. The 4-year-old Scat Daddy filly clicked off fractions of :25.41, :48.88, and 1:13.50 through six furlongs while followed closely by Beau Belle and Gentle Ruler, who dueled for second and third.
Mean Mary picked up the pace as the mile went in 1:36.79 and opened up her lead to 1 1/2 lengths heading into the stretch. Gentle Ruler was eased out into the two path to move up for second but did not kick home in time to catch the winner who crossed the wire one length in front in a final time of 2:11.73 on firm turf.
"I was very pleased," said trainer Graham Motion. "This was kind of our 'Plan B' and you always worry when you go to a backup plan. But she's so classy and she handles everything so well. She gallops all day."
"When she broke from the gate, she was on her way comfortably," Saez added. "She's a nice filly. She's really improving. Today she was more comfortable. She's really learning."
Gentle Ruler held on for second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Elizabeth Way, who moved up from midpack during the stretch run to take third.
Victory in the Orchid is the second stakes win of 2020 for Mean Mary, who opened the year with a another gate-to-wire victory in the La Prevoyante (G3T) over 1 1/2 miles at Gulfstream. The filly broke her maiden on her second start at 3 at Keeneland and took an allowance optional claiming race two starts later at the South Florida track to close out her sophomore season.
Mean Mary improved her record to four firsts and one second from six starts with earnings of $258,660.
Bred in Kentucky by Campbell, Mean Mary is out of the Dynaformer mare Karlovy Vary, another Campbell homebred who won the 2012 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Karlovy Vary has a 3-year-old colt by Uncle Mo named Bye Bye Melvin and was last reported bred to Uncle Mo in 2018.
La Signare Returns to Winner's Circle in Sand Springs
One start before Mean Mary turned in her impressive turf performance, it was La Signare's turn to prove her mettle on the grass. The Brendan Walsh trainee went from near last to first and earned her first win since 2018 in the $100,000 Sand Springs Stakes over one-mile.
Guided by Tyler Gaffalione, La Signare was held back off the early pace as Valedictorian took the lead from the break. La Signare rated in ninth as the first half-mile went in :46.63, was guided out three wide headed into the far turn, and picked up the pace on the far outside to get up within striking distance of Valedictorian at the top of the stretch.
Less than a furlong from the finish Valedictorian was asked for more but began to wane. La Signare seized the opportunity to pass the leader and rallied to get up by three-quarters of a length for the win. She completed a mile in 1:33.12
La Signare wins the Sand Springs Stakes
Winless in her previous six starts, 5-year-old La Signare last visited the winner's circle at 3 when she took the Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park for former trainer Brian Lynch. Campaigned by Madaket Stables, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron, and Bradley Thoroughbreds, La Signare joined the barn of Brendan Walsh in the Fall of 2019 and entered the Sand Springs off a third in the The Very One Stakes (G3T) Feb. 29 at Gulfstream.
Bred in France by Moussa Mbacke, La Signare is out of the Beat Hollow mare La Teranga, who has also produced stakes winner Le Baol. The daughter of Siyouni improved her record to 3-1-2 from 11 starts with $227,543 in earnings.
Video: Orchid S. presented by Rood and Riddle (G3T)