ONT Matron Stakes (Grade 3) – $150.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
July 25, 2015

It was a rainy day at WO on Saturday, and that led to a muddy track surface for the ONT Matron Stakes. Of the five in the field, there were two that had never been raced on an off track before.  One of them was Home Sweet Home, the entry with only four career starts, so she would not have been much of a surprise to be one.  The other was that horse on the rail, Lullaby Maker Tf.  Looking at this beautifully conformed racehorse though, you had to have confidence that should be able to handle the rain, but she would do more then just that.  She would thrive on it, and in her graded stake debut, Lullaby Maker TF can call herself a winner of the ONT Matron Stakes.  So too, can her trainer, Team 7 Illusions, and jockey, D Moran.  The time of the race in the mud was 1:45.41.  There is nothing that we can compare that time too as this is the first edition of this race to be run on anything but a fast track.  Let’s take a deeper look at how the race transpired.

1st- 1- Lullaby Maker Tf  (5/2)- The eventual race winner started quickly for Team 7 Illusions, running second but alongside the leading High Percentage.  By the time the hit the top of the backstretch, she had assumed the lead.   She had a fantastic run over the course of the backstretch, putting daylight of a couple lengths between her and High Percentage, and extending the gap between the others.  The half mile went in :48.60.  She continued to pour it over the turn, and as they reached the top of the stretch, she had actually added another length to her lead, setting the 3/4 mark time in 1:12.94.   During the stretch, she had pulled too far away from those who were looking to close in the stretch.  D Moran didn’t have to do a ton here, and was able to bring Lullaby Maker Tf home comfortably and actually, quite easily.   No one threatened her in this race, and it is an impressive win!  Lullaby Maker Tf is a three year old filly by Megalomaniac and out of Maid of New Orleans .  She was bred in NY by Two Field Stables but never raced for that one, spending the majority of her career with Rouge River Stables.  She was purchased in private sales by Team 7 Illusions in June for $150.770, who has been rewarded now with two wins this month.  Congrats again!

2nd- 5- Maggie Hart (9/1)- It was a midpack start for our pick in today’s race from Mb Stables.  She would be fourth around the opening turn, generally running alongside her stablemate about three to four lengths off the lead.  She lost a little bit of ground in the backstretch, still not interested to get up there and challenge Lullaby Maker Tf at this point when that one was pulling away.  She began to look for position and a lane in the turn, but still even at this point, she had been yet to advance.  It wasn’t until just over a furlong to go did Maggie Hart look as though she was going to challenge the leader.    She had a great run once she did, but it needed to start earlier.

3rd- 3- Lightem Up Roxie (11/1)- The longest shot on the board, from Mo Mentum Farm, did not get off to a good start.  Not to worry though, as this usually is her running style.  Her backstretch run was rather uneventful.  Looked for room to run at the top of the stretch.   During the stretch, we saw some of that closing kick, but as was the case with Maggie Hart, it was something that needed to begin earlier for a chance to win the race.

4th- 2- High Percentage (6/5)- The post time favorite was quick out of the gate for Maverick Racing, and led the field around the first turn, setting a quarter mile time in :24.33.   She was passed at the beginning of the backstretch run for the lead, and by the time they reached the end of the backstretch, she was two lengths out of it.   This began a gradual drop through the field as the race carried on to the end.

5th- 4- Home Sweet Home (3/1)- Third early for Mb Stables, but still with a gap of three lengths to the top two.  Maintained this position throughout the backstretch.  When Maggie Hart and Lightem Up Roxie decided it was time to run, Home Sweet Home was not able to match those moves, and would be flat in the stretch.

Track: Muddy
Time: :24¹  :48³  1:12⁴  1:45²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 5 Paid 23.60
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 5 – 3 Paid 192.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III