Brooke Marie Catches Alice Marble in Monrovia
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Brooke Marie moves past Alice Marble late to take the Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Brooke Marie , one of the top female grass sprinters in Louisiana over the winter, has proven her chops in California.
With trainer Eddie Kenneally shipping the 6-year-old mare west to Santa Anita Park to compete against a short field in the $200,500 Monrovia Stakes (G2T), the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid responded by running down pacesetting Alice Marble for a half-length victory.
The Monrovia provided Castleton Lyons' Brooke Marie with the first graded stakes win of her 15-race career. In December, she registered her first black-type triumph in the Pan Zareta Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Fresh in her first race since a third-place finish in the Jan. 29 Frederick P. Aime Memorial Stakes Stakes at Fair Grounds, Brooke Marie was closer to the pace than usual in the Monrovia. That forward placement was advantageous—she raced within range of Alice Marble, who had enjoyed setting a relatively easy pace of :23.05 and :45.55 in the down-the-hill 6 1/2-furlong grass race.
It seemed that Nick Alexander's Alice Marble might outlast her in the early stretch, but after the grass race passed over the main track to meet the primary turf course, Brooke Marie proved superior.
"On paper, it looked like there was going to be one speed horse, and my filly broke really fast," said winning rider Juan Hernandez. "She put me right there. She was enjoying the trip, and I just sat behind (Alice Marble) and waited for them to cross the dirt to kick to the wire.
"I like her. She's really professional. She crossed the dirt really good, and then soon after that, I asked her a couple of times, and she passed the other filly."
Another eastern shipper, 9-5 favorite Toby's Heart, stalked the pace and seemed a threat after diving to the inside in early stretch but she couldn't gain sufficient ground on the top two. She finished 1 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up in third.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who rode Toby's Heart, liked the racing position that left her within striking distance but said she "got flat" late.
Royal Address , Tapwater , and Cover Version completed the order of finish.
The winner raced 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita's firm downhill turf course in 1:13.42. She paid $11.20.
Castleton Lyons purchased Brooke Marie for $210,000 from the ELiTE sales consignment to the 2021 Keeneland April Horse of Racing Age Sale. She is among three starters and two winners from four foals produced from the unraced Giant's Causeway mare Mamasez. Her one unraced foal is 2-year-old filly by Collected .
The Monrovia was Brooke Marie's sixth career victory and vaulted her earnings to $408,730. She is 3-for-4 for her current connections.