Marley's Freedom Reels in Selcourt to Take Santa Monica

She may not have won the Eclipse Award for champion female sprinter of 2018, but Marley's Freedom began her case for 2019 Feb. 16 at Santa Anita Park.

With classy loose leader Selcourt out in front of her through much of the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2), Cicero Farms' 5-year-old Blame  mare had no issue blowing by her rival at the top of the lane as she cruised to a geared-down 1 1/4-length victory under jockey Drayden Van Dyke.

For a moment it looked as though Selcourt, who shot out of the gate and maintained a clear advantage through fractions of :22.48 and :45.07, would not have any challengers in the seven-furlong dirt test. As the defending Santa Monica winner entered the first turn, she began to kick away from the field, but by the time the trip around the bend was completed, the end result was evident.

"We had a good tactical spot," Van Dyke said. "I was just sitting on her, but I had to get after Selcourt a little early because it looked like she was running pretty easy on the lead."

Selcourt appeared a bit weary as she turned for home, while Marley's Freedom was just gearing up a length behind. Selcourt still battled on to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Mopotism, but was no match for her grade 1-winning rival, who hit the wire in 1:22.34 on a track labeled "good."

"She broke like a shot today, and we got to set our own fractions," said jockey Joe Talamo, who rode Selcourt for the first time Saturday. "She was very relaxed, and hats off to the winner. … I was really proud of my mare today, though. Even when Marley's Freedom came to her, she was fighting. I thought we were going to steal it there for a second."

Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods, who made her first start for new trainer John Shirreffs, didn't make much of an impact. She broke last from the rail and pulled herself into second as she left the chute to the main track, while jockey Joel Rosario tried to apply the brakes. With an inside trip throughout, she began to drop back in the turn and came in last of five, 3 1/4 lengths behind fourth-place finisher Escape Clause.

Since moving to Baffert in the spring of 2018, Marley's Freedom has only lost one race, when she finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) after a sluggish beginning and a wide trip, and was only beaten a half-length by winner and eventual champion Shamrock Rose.

Bred in Kentucky by Jack Swain III out of the Formal Gold mare Relaxing Green, Marley's Freedom now has an 8-2-0 record and $935,935 in earnings from 15 starts. She was a $35,000 purchase by Cicero Farms, which is owned by Barbara and Ron Perry, out of Brookdale Sales' consignment to the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

"We call what Marley does—she doesn't stalk. She hunts," Ron Perry said. "She was hunting Selcourt all the way down the backside."

Video: Santa Monica S. (G2)