Maryquitecontrary Eyeing Repeat in Inside Information

As Rodney Lundock's homebred mare Maryquitecontrary  seeks a repeat win in the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (G2), trainer Eddie Plesa said he cares more about the recent addition to his barn as she is today and less about her having won this race last year.

"I'm dealing with the present," Plesa said of the Florida homebred. "I'm dealing with the horse that's in my barn, watching her train. I love the way she's training, which is as good as a horse can train for me.

"All the boxes are checked coming into this race."

The seven-furlong Inside Information is one of seven graded stakes being run Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park as part of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) card.

Maryquitecontrary, a 5-year-old daughter of First Dude  , won six of her first seven career starts, all at Gulfstream, while being trained by Joe Catanese. She then left Florida for three races with trainer Shug McGaughey, before returning to South Florida for a race with trainer David Fawkes.

The mare's best finishes during her four races prior to joining Plesa's stable were two seconds, in the Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in April and in the Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream in October. With Plesa, she successfully defended a victory in the one-mile Rampart Stakes Dec. 30 at Gulfstream under jockey Luca Panici.

"Luca rode an outstanding race," Plesa said. "In all of her previous races, she had been on the outside of the field. This race, going down the backside, she was saving ground. I had seen in previous races where she was giving up a lot of lengths because of her trips."

Maryquitecontrary will start from post 9 in the 10-horse field.

Romagna Mia Tries for Three in a Row

In the 1 1/2 miles on turf $150,000 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T), Team Valor International's Romagna Mia  will be seeking a third straight win. The 5-year-old gray/roan daughter of Mastercraftsman  will start from the rail.

"It's the shortest way around, especially going a mile and a half," trainer Graham Motion said. "I think it'll kind of be an advantage."

Romagna Mia, bred by Cavendish Bloodstock in Britain, will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Velazquez has been aboard all three of the mare's United States starts, which include a third-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) at Colonial Downs in August, and wins in the 1 1/2-mile Dowager Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland in October and the 1 1/2 mile Via Borghese Stakes on Gulfstream's Tapeta course Dec. 26.

"We weren't sure about the synthetic last time but she handled it very well," Motion said, "and I think she's improved each time I've run her over here, really. She's always worked well, but I feel like she's gotten more professional."

Motion, who will be looking to capture his fifth win in the La Prevoyante, also will start Sister Otoole , a 7-year-old bay mare sired by Amira's Prince , from post 6. She's coming off a third-place finish Nov. 23 in the Red Carpet Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar.

Oisin Murphy will be aboard Sister Otoole for the first time.

The nine-horse La Prevoyante field also includes Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing's R Calli Kim , trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Jose Ortiz. The 7-year-old Revolutionary  mare, seeking a fifth straight victory, will start in post 3.