Mean Mary Eyes Return in New York Stakes

Alex G. Campbell's Mean Mary  is being prepared for a defense of the $750,000 New York Stakes (G2T) June 4 at Belmont Park as her first start of 2021 for trainer Graham Motion.

The 5-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy, out of grade 1-winner Karlovy Vary , wintered in Florida at Palm Meadows before shipping to Motion's primary base at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. She recently breezed five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 April 12.

Motion said Mean Mary missed her initial target, the 11-furlong Sheepshead Bay (G2T) May 1 at Belmont Park.

"It took us a while to get going with her," Motion said. "I would have liked to have made the Sheepshead Bay, but we got a little behind so we're looking at the race in June."

Last season, Mean Mary put together three straight victories against graded stakes company. Prior to capturing the New York, she won the La Prevoyante (G3T) and the Orchid Stakes Presented by Rood & Riddle (G3T) last winter at Gulfstream Park. She has not raced since finishing seventh in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) in November at Keeneland.

Motion said True Valour  returned from his international endeavor in Dubai in good order and could possibly make the Jackpocket Jaipur (G1T), a six-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and older June 5 at Belmont Park offering Breeders' Cup Win and You're In status.

Owned by R. Larry Johnson, True Valour finished sixth in the Al Quoz Turf Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1), arriving off stakes placings in the Joe Hernandez (G2T) at Santa Anita Park and the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"He had a really weird trip in Dubai," Motion recalled. "He seems fine back at Fair Hill. We're just taking things easy with him at the moment. He could be possible for the Jaipur."

Motion also has New York graded stakes starts in mind for Invincible Gal , who has not raced since running second in the Tepin Stakes Nov. 29 at the Big A. The 3-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit garnered black type twice last season, finishing second in the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park and the Selima Stakes at Pimlico Race Course Oct. 3.

Owned by Mike Ryan, Jeff Drown, and Team Hanley, Invincible Gal could make her seasonal bow in the seven-furlong $100,000 Soaring Softly (G3T) May 15 at Belmont.