Mabee Stakes (Grade 2)- $250.00 Purse
DMR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
September 7, 2026

As we take in all of the excitement happening in the big races on Saturday, let’s take a moment to look ahead, as this holiday weekend offers a lot more. On Monday, we will have the Grade 2 Mabee Stakes at DMR, offering $250.00 for three year old and older fillies and mares. It’s nine furlongs on the turf, and will have eight heading to the starting gate and while three year olds were eligible, all entries are at least four. Last year, it was won by Nakamura Stables and his six year old mare, Charleston Girl. She would win the Rodeo Drive at SA a month later, and took part in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf. From there, she ran for half of this year, and has since been retired. Here’s a look at this year’s group!

1- Never In Charge (Jkk Racing Stables, ridden by J J Hernandez)- Last year, this filly did not race much as a three year old, but made the most of it when she did, going 4-for-4, capped off by taking Grade 3 Comely at AQU at December. At that point, there was plenty of reason to be excited about her, leaving her results this year to be a letdown. Sure, she won an optional claimer at PRX, but her other races, all graded, have seen her be no where near the winner at the end. A recent work, while certainly not terrible, did not do much to make me optimistic about her here.

2- Grand Design (Bigchief Stables, ridden by F Geroux)- Initially bred by the trainer, then being claimed away and claimed back, Grand Design is certainly getting better over time. Starting this year, she got her first chance in an ungraded stake, happening at TUP, and cashed a fourth place check. Since then, Bigchief Stables has been giving her a little greater challenge than her prior race, and the mare has remained consistent in picking up checks. She doesn’t win them all, but she can be counted to represent herself well whenever she’s out there. The last time she finished outside the top four was October 2024.

3- Voltaire (Threshold, ridden by A Fresu)- Last year when Charleston Girl won, it came in a photo at the wire. Just a little bit short in that race was Voltaire, so now she has her chance to do one spot better. She would end up running in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, to cap off what was a strong year for her, and ran in the middle of the field. This year, she’s only made four starts, hitting the board in three of them, with another near miss coming last time out in the Grade 2 Beverly D at CNL. Maybe she will take what she just missed out on here last year.

4- Right As Rain (Alydar Stables, ridden by U Rispoli)- Right As Rain does not win a lot, with four wins over 25 starts, and can be inconsistent at times. Her lone graded win came here last August in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, and she’s hit the board in three of her seven starts since them, and that includes two overnights. She’s been great in the past, I just don’t know what to expect out her. This field is not too much for her, at all, so she could be a spoiler, and worth more consideration if her odds climb.

5- Queen Kingdom (Serenity Stables, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- About two weeks ago, she ran in the $100.00 Violet Stakes at MTH and had quite a dismal finish, running last and 13 lengths behind. She’s not really that bad, though, and the soft turf may have played a large part in that. Her being entered here shows that the trainer is fully confident and quickly wants to erase that race from memory. Worked well, and ready to show that she’s better, but I’m not sure that’s enough to get her to the winner’s circle.

6- Sea Of Galilee (Winning Link Stables, ridden by V Espinoza)- Comes into the race on a two week winning streak, and is a good example of why you should not get too carried away with a string of subpar races. After running fourth in the American Oaks, she was next to last in her following two starts, and beaten by a combined eight lengths. But just when things were starting to look rough, she bounced back, taking an optional claimer at AQU for NY-breds, and then capturing the $250.00 Sunkissed at ELP. In her case, there was nothing to be worried about and now we’ll see how long this roll will last.

7- Liable (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by D Moran)- Spent her early career running on the main track, mostly in overnights before her prior trainer tried her in the Grade 1 La Brea. A respectable run there led to more ungraded placements, but in June she’d be dropped into a $50.00 optional claimer, which was also her turf debut. Mo Mentum Farm saw her there and grabbed her. The initial start did not go well, so this is not a success story yet, but her new trainer clearly has high aspirations and hopes for sun.

8- Neon Era (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by R Bejarano)- A lightly raced four year old filly that will make just her seventh career start her. She spent pretty much all of her three old season on the shelf with Night Mare Racing, and was purchased by TwinTowersRacing in the December 2025 auction for $13.01. In her new barn, she’s run more regularly, winning twice and leading to her stake debut in this year’s Yellow Ribbon Handicap. Had one of those classic “fifth by a length” results that frustrates virtual trainers but it at least showed she can handle this level of competition. How much more she can grow is the big question with her right now.

Prediction: 3-6-2-8

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES