Mr Maybe Leaves No Doubt in Red Smith

Late in his 4-year-old season, Mr Maybe has found his best stride.

Making his stakes debut Saturday, Nov. 14 on the turf at Aqueduct Racetrack, Mr Maybe used a sustained rally to deliver a decisive victory in the $250,000 Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIIT). The victory extended Mr Maybe's win streak to three races.

Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, and Highclere America's Mr Maybe raced last of eight early in the 1 3/8-mile turf race under Irad Ortiz Jr. while War Dancer posted slow early fractions of :26.07 for a quarter-mile and :51.31 for a half-mile while tracked by Mr Speaker, who was aiming to give trainer Shug McGaughey his fourth Red Smith win in the past five years.

In the final turn the two early leaders opened up on the field but further back Mr Maybe was improving position after launching a move early in the third turn. Rallying four wide, Mr Maybe reached the lead in midstretch and then drew off to a 4 1/4-length win.

"They told me he's the kind of horse you don't push too much and just to save ground," Ortiz said. "So I broke out of there and tried to save ground the whole way. By the half-mile, I knew they were going a little slow so I had to move. I went a little wide but I had horse and when I asked him, he just took off."

Both front-runners faded in the stretch as Kaigun rallied on the inside to finish second, followed by recent Sycamore Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Holiday Star third. Mr Maybe completed the 11-furlong race in 2:17.49 on firm turf.

Mr Maybe returned $6.80 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.40 to show while Kaigun paid $4.90 and $3.60. Holiday Star returned $6.70 to show.

Mr Maybe was purchased privately by his current owners after an Aug. 31 victory at Parx Racing. He previously raced for Cash is King. At that time the Ghostzapper   gelding was moved from trainer Robert Reid Jr. to Chad Brown. Charles Zacney of Cash is King landed Mr Maybe for $85,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale.  

"We knew he was sitting on a really good race but how easily he won surprised me," Brown said. "He's a horse that has a lot of talent. We thought there was some room for improvement and he's taken to our program nicely. My staff has really enjoyed working with this horse—he's a big teddy bear—and he's only getting better."

Brown added that he could see Mr Maybe winning a grade I race and will point him to turf races from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/2 miles next season.

Out of the stakes winning With Approval mare Regal Approval, Mr Maybe was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroguhbred Holdings, Liberation Farm, and et al.