Ladies Marathon (Grade 3)- $1,000.000 Purse
KD- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and Five Sixteenths on the Turf
September 9, 2023

Last month, Stinky Rene surprised many people when she picked up the victory in the Grade 1 Beverly D at CNL. She was nearly a 27/1 longshot that day, and her form going into the race was the reason why. After that win, the big question would become how would she follow that up? Another subpar outing, and the win would seem like a fluke, but a strong run, if not a win would make her much more appealing. In the Ladies Marathon, TwinTowersRacing was hoping for the best, and the bettors would not make her a major longshot this time out. The result would be another win, the first time in her career that she has gone back-to-back, and now her status heading into the BC will look much better. Congrats to TwinTowersRacing on the win, his first in the Ladies Marathon. That’s also true for R M Hernandez, who’s now ridden her in her last two. The winning time was 2:05.11, which can’t be compared to anything since this was only the second edition of the race and last year’s running went off on yielding turf. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/2 Mile- :47.95)- Tabitha Stephens takes the early lead for Mb Stables, but she has some company on the front end as we move into the opening turn of the race as both Team 7 Illusions- trained Nijinsky, and Wood Duck Stables’ Coconut Milk are within a half-length of her, keeping Tabitha Stephens in the third lane. Stinky Rene is fourth on the rail, and our eventual winner from TwinTowersRacing maintains a comfortable position on the track, about three lengths from the leader after half a mile. It’s another length to Sinister City (The Freakshow), and the post-time favorite Maggie Greene (The Sidley Stud). There’s a gap of three more back to the trailers, Bombing For Peace (Jerry Garcia Racing) and Villeneuve (Mo Mentum Farm).

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.97)- As we continue along, Tabitha Stephens has cleared those that were with her previously and holds a lead of a length over second place Nijinsky. Stinky Rene has moved up to third, but not because she has made any sort of move yet. She is content to maintain her position, remaining two and a half lengths from the lead, but this did allow her to get by Coconut Milk. That one looked to be calling it a day pretty early. Maggie Greene was now a half-length ahead of Sinister City, and both of them looked to the outside for a potential move. Bombing for Peace and Villeneuve continue to trail.

(Top of Stretch, 2.0F To Go)- Now moving into the stretch, Tabitha Stephens continues to be the race leader, running in the same manner that she had in the last three races but hoping now to make it stick all the way to the end. Nijinsky continued to be her shadow in second, but moving up would be our Beverly D winner, Stinky Rene. Just like she did last month, the filly by Rene was looking strong and was poised to make her winning run. While it seemed promising for her to get by those ahead of her, the concern for TwinTowersRacing was more in the form of Maggie Greene, as the veteran horse was also moving very well on the rail. Sinister City, who had been running with that one, was no longer able to keep up. Villeneuve was starting to show a little interest, though Bombing For Peace was lacking response and Coconut Milk was done for the day.

(Finish- 2:05.11)- Halfway into the stretch, Tabitha Stephens was showing some good heart that has made her a successful filly, but Nijinsky was getting ready to go by on her inside, with Stinky Rene trying to do the same on the outside. They needed to hurry, because Maggie Greene was now within a length of them on the rail. At this point, it looked like we would have an entertaining finish all the way to the wire. In the late stages of the race, Stinky Rene would make the pass of Tabitha Stephens and at that point Maggie Greene was no longer able to make a gain on her. It would be Stinky Rene, doing it again and showing that the Beverly D was absolutely not a fluke! Maggie Greene ends up second best with a solid run, and Tabitha Stephens holds off Nijinsky in a tight photo for show. It’s another length to Villeneuve, who defeats Sinister City, Bombing For Peace and eventually, Coconut Milk.

About The Winner- Stinky Rene, trained by TwinTowersRacing and ridden to victory by R M Hernandez, is a four-year-old filly by Rene, and is out of Skunked. She was bred as a yearling in Florida by TwinTowersRacing, the only trainer for which she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 24 starts and her third stake win, all of which are graded. Her career earnings are now $1,231.970.

Track: Firm
Time: :47⁴  1:11³  1:35²  2:05

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 3 Paid 71.60
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 3 – 8 Paid 205.00

Scratched: November Storm

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES