Marbre Rose Prevails in Tight Seaway Finish
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Haras de Saint Pair and Monceaux Stable's Marbre Rose collared pacesetter Endless Light in the final strides and thrust out her nose on the finish line to win the $150,000 Seaway Stakes (Can-III) Aug. 8 at Woodbine.
The 4-year-old Smart Strike filly covered seven furlongs in 1:22.32 on the all-weather track in her main track debut after previouly racing exclusively on turf. Ridden by Alan Garcia for trainer Christophe Clement, Marbre Rose earned her first graded stakes triumph.
Endless Light, with Eurico Rosa da Silva up, set a moderate pace, clocking fractions of :23.22 and :46.06 while pressured by Skylander Girl. Pirate's Trove and the even-money favourite Hillaby stalked front-runners into the turn as Marbre Rose saved ground while next to last in the field of six.
Pirate's Trove and Hillaby angled out for the stretch run as they tried to reel in Endless Light, while Garcia made a decisive inside run with Marbre Rose and was all out to catch the pacesetter in the shadow of the wire. Cactus Kris rallied from last to take third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Endless Light.
Despite the tight finish, Garcia said he was confident he got the win.
"I was comfortable that I got up," he said. "I was always comfortable with my filly. Her last two times she had a good kick at the end. I was waiting for the turn for home, looking for room, and letting her run."
Clement, who remained at Saratoga to saddle Tonalist in the grade I Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, spoke to Garcia on the phone earlier in the day with final instructions.
"He asked me to take her back and save all the ground I could and make one run at the top of the stretch," Garcia said. "He said, 'If you're good enough, you're going to win.' "
For her first win from four starts this year, Mabre Rose paid $8.60, $4.80, and $3.90, and Endless Light returned $5.90 and $4.90. Cactus Kris paid $6.30 to show.
Bred in Ireland by Ecurie Des Monceaux out of the Unbridled's Song mare Manerbe, Mabre Rose improved to a 4-3-2 record from 13 career starts.
Last time out, Marbre Rose missed by a nose in the Perfect Sting Stakes going a mile July 3 at Belmont Park.Group 3 placed in France, she arrived in North America in the fall posting back-to-back wins on the grass, including a Belmont Park allowance and the South Beach Stakes, at Gulfstream Park.
Pirate's Trove was fourth, followed by Hillaby and Skylander Girl to complete the order of finish. Miss Mischief was a stewards' scratch.