Miss Mosaic Bows Out an American Beauty Winner

Keystone Racing's Miss Mosaic  ended her first career on a high note Jan. 22, with a determined victory in the $150,000 American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The 6-year-old daughter of Verrazano , a half sister to grade 1 winner Miss Temple City , made 19th start and secured black type for the first time under jockey David Cabrera before heading off to her second career—life as a broodmare and a date with Tapit  .

"She's been great," trainer Ben Colebrook said Saturday. "She's been so consistent, and she's run big, big races—she just hadn't been able to crack through (at the black-type level). Today she got the right setup and David gave her a perfect ride. That she got to go out on a winning note is so awesome; she deserves it."

Prominent from the start after breaking well from post 9 in a field of as many, Miss Mosaic shifted over to press pacesetter Sarah Harper  and the forwardly placed Ain't No Elmers  through a quarter in :21.97, then moved up to second through a :45.72 half. Confidently handled three-wide off the turn, she put a head in front when straightened out for home and dug deep while holding off the late charge of Joy's Rocket . That rival closed from sixth after bobbling at the break, but ran out of time in the six-furlong test and had to settle for second by a neck. The winner was timed in 1:10.71.

"I would like to thank the owners and the trainer," said Cabrera. "They were telling me right before the race that this is going to be her last out; she's going to be a broodmare, so I'm extra happy for them and I'm glad she retired on a good note.

"I talked to (Ben) right before the race and he just told me to try to get her comfortable, he told me, 'She's big, try not to get her stopped.... she ran so big. We came out of there, she showed a little speed, we sat nice and comfortable, and in the end I had all I needed."

Ain't No Elmers held for third while favored Li'l Tootsie  finished sixth. Miss Mosaic was sent off at odds of 7-1 and returned $16.80 on a $2 win ticket.

Miss Mosaic was bred in Kentucky by Keystone Racing and Bob Feld Bloodstock out of the Artax  mare Glittering Tax , also the dam of grade 3 winner Pricedtoperfection .

Another good stakes performer for Glittering Tax. Best known as the dam of G1 winner Miss Temple City. Glittering Tax just turned 20 and is in excellent health. She's 45% stakes winners to runners, 4, and counting. Currently in foal to Kittens Joy @HillnDaleFarm #SF https://t.co/8SzjDBwLat

— Tom Ryan (@TomRyanKY) January 22, 2022

"It's an amazing story," said Aaron Jutte of Keystone. "We had a lot of trouble with her in her early career and gave her a bunch of time off. As a single owner, you don't have to worry about partners at that point, so you can give her all the time off in the world you want.

"(Her issues were) just like 2-year-old stuff and so we just gave her, basically, her 2-year-old and halfway through her 3-year-old career off. She didn't make a start until she was at the end of her 3-year-old career."

Miss Mosaic retires with a 3-8-1 record with earnings of $292,759. 

"A.J. and his family are just so patient. They put the horse first," Colebrook said. "It's very satisfying to see her complete her career this way. She had a colic surgery coming back from a race in Canada and is lucky to really be alive, to be honest. 

"I'm sure she'll be a great mama. That family's so deep. A.J. and his family should be super proud of all she's done for them." 

Video: American Beauty S. (BT)