9/19/21

  4   WO   Natalma Stakes (GI) [BC]

          $400.000       2yoF        1m  Turf        120lbs

I bet Mb loves you too!  I Love Me, owned and trained by Mb Stables, tracked the pace throughout Sunday’s Natalma Stakes (GI) at WO… but, and this is what makes Mb potent, when the cash was on the line, the bay filly moved past everyone to score by three-quarters of a length.  The final running time was a snappy 1:33³ for the mile turf stakes, and it appears that she will be headed to DMR for the BC goings-on.  Lake Gunn sat well off of the pace and made a heck of a run down the lane to grab the second spot, a half-length better than the deep-closing Crackz, then another neck to the pace-setter, Chyna Joe in fourth.     

The field loaded into the gate and were off with Chyna Joe showing speed from the outside, Impossible Dream just to her inside, then a gap to the trio of Permanent Vacation from the outside, I Love Me between horses and Lucky Number Nine along the rail.  Another gap to Power Mower on the inside of Lake Gunn, Halls Cafeteria a bit wider and Crackz widest of all, as Sin de Berry was the early trailer.

They made their way down the backside and were moving into the dog-leg with four and a half furlongs to run, Chyna Joe in front by two, Impossible Dream trying to keep pace, I Love Me moving up to be third, Permanent Vacation on her flank, then a gap down to the rail for Lucky Number Nine, Power Mower between foes, Lake Gumm on the outside of that trio, then Halls Cafeteria on the outside of that one, Crackz widest of all, as Sin de Berry continued to be the back marker.

Around the dog-leg turn and at the top of the lane, they were nearing the three-sixteenth’s pole and Chyna Joe looked as tired as her name as I Love Me ranged up quickly to stick a nose in front.  Impossible Dream just in behind that duo, Power Mower down the center of the track, Lucky Number Nine just to her inside, then a four-some trying to close from the outside that included Lake Gunn, Permanent Vacation, Crackz and Halls Cafeteria, as Sin de Berry continued to trail the field.

Now inside the final sixteenth and to the wire, I Love Me opened up a length and a half lead, Chyna Joe continued to back out of it as Lake Gunn and the very wide Crackz were now showing late interest… the rest were running for the minor money as this one was nearing the wire.  And as they hit the wire, I Love Me handled the closers, getting home first by a half length over the late charge of Lake Gunn.  Crackz also made a late push from the far outside, nailing down the third spot with Chyna Joe tiring to be fourth.  Impossible Dream was fifth, Halls Cafeteria sixth, Lucky Number Nine seventh, Power Mower eighth, Permanent Vacation ninth and Sin de Berry closed this one out.  

I love Me is a 2yo bay filly by Centerpiece – Exactly Like That, by Pantheresque, and she was bred in Cal by her owner, Mb Stables.  This was her second win from five starts, and she’s never missed a check in any race, now showing lifetime earnings of $317.800.  She looks like a horse that could be any type and she should be a fun horse to keep an eye on.  Congrats to the connections.       

$2 Mutuel Prices: 

Track: Firm            Time: :23   :46¹  1:09³  1:33³
$1 Exacta: 2 – 7 Paid 38.20         $1 Trifecta: 2 – 7 – 10 Paid 145.30
Scratched: None

I Love Me settled in behind the pace while unhurried early, improved position through the turn, level terms with pace setter into the lane, clear at the eighth pole, held off late challenge to win driving.  Lake Gunn taken back off of the pace, drifted to 5p for the drive, closed full of run in a game effort.  Crackz lacked speed into the far turn, moved widest for the drive, good late run.  Chyna Joe broke alertly to set the pace to the lane, headed, tired.  Impossible Dream just behind the pace to the far turn, began to lose position, tired.  Halls Cafeteria raced in hand to the far turn, passed tiring rivals late.  Lucky Number Nine inside position, tired.  Power Mower raced mid-pack, tired late.  Permanent Vacation just in behind the pace to the lane, tired.  Sin de Berry was never involved, dull effort. 

Categories: BC 2021-2023, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP