The Matriarch (Grade 1)- $300.000 Purse
DMR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
December 2, 2018

Initially, Nancy Broom Moytoy was going to race in the Grade 2 Mrs Revere last week, but was scratched soon after the field was announced. A week later, we saw the entrants for this field, and the re-emergence of Nancy Broom Moytoy, now taking on a stronger field for a greater purse. With that, clearly the trainer, Team 7 Illusions, had a lot confidence in how she was working heading into the race, and therefore was made our second pick. There was another in here I found a little more appealing, and she did end up dead heating for second. However, in the winners circle, it was all about Nancy Broom Moytoy, earning another big win on this race track. Team 7 Illusions wins the race for the first time, and maybe this is where to ask, will this be his last Grade 1 win? He had said he was going to be selling out, and retiring from the game during December. Not sure if that is still the case, given only 45 non-yearlings in this upcoming auction, but if it is, then it could be the last Grade 1, or one of the last ones for this long time elite trainer of the game. The winning jockey is A Beschizza, who is a first time winner as well. The time of the victory was 1:33.45, one of the slower winning times with the race at DMR, but it was all that was needed. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :22.88)- Out of the gate, its Moonlight Bliss the quickest of them all as the Fractious entry opens up by a length over the field heading into the first turn. That would have been an even bigger lead if not for his stablemate Wednesday, who would be in that second position. It’s another length to a group running three wide that includes Mb Stables’ Noble Moment on the rail, Maxmillion Farm’s Alligator in the middle, and our eventual winner, Nancy Broom Moytoy on the outside, for Team 7 Illusions. Red Broom was a half length behind this for Williams9, as she hoped to come between Noble Moment and Alligator. After another length and a half, we see another three wide group. This one has Commanding Faith (Crocker Ggs) on the rail, Trump Princess (Winning Link Stables) in the middle, and Rain Down (John Henry). Further back, Killer Angels (TwinTowersRacing) trails by six and a half, though is a length ahead of the trailer, Diminuendo (Blushing Meadows).

(½ Mile- :45.76)- With the second quarter running exactly in the same :22.88 time, Moonlight Bliss maintains her advantage into the backstretch. The lead is still a length and a half, but we have a new second place runner. That would be Nancy Broom Moytoy, who once the backstretch run began, began to push forward over those she had been running with. She was a nose in front of third place Wednesday here, and it seemed like she was going to challenge Moonlight Bliss during the backstretch, instead of waiting longer. Alligator ran fourth, and was in a good position on the race track, holding a half length advantage over Noble Moment and Red Broom. Further back, they were running in essentially the same order and in the same fashion, so let’s move on.

(Top of stretch, 1.5F To Go)- In the backstretch, Nancy Broom Moytoy would indeed put her move on the frontrunning Moonlight Bliss, but it was a little surprising just how easily the latter surrendered the lead. By the time they reached the midway point of the far turn, Nancy Broom Moytoy had opened up a length lead. It remained that way as they hit the top of the stretch, but the new second place horse here would be Alligator. She remained in her lane during the backstretch, and seemed to be waiting for her time to strike. It didn’t take much for her to pass Moonlight Bliss, now third, either. Red Broom was running well here, too, and about to take over third. Wednesday and Noble Moment looked to be out of gas now. This meant that Commanding Faith had to come way off the rail and into the fifth lane to make a move. Trump Princess and Rain Down had no choice but also move out wide. Diminuendo, now, if she had a close coming was going to have to do it from about the middle of the race track. Killer Angels seemed to be looking for options and hoping for openings to take advantage of instead of also going way outside.

(Finish- 1:33.41)- In the stretch, Nancy Broom Moytoy was not about to be caught. She would run gracefully at this time, keep her length and a half advantage over the rest of the field most of the way. There was no let up, and a smooth looking win by a length. There would be drama over the second place finisher, though. Alligator, who seemed as though she would be able to challenge Nancy Broom Moytoy more, was not fully able to hold off Red Broom, as the two of them settle for a dead heat. Commanding Faith ran very well in the stretch, but conceded too much ground early, and settles for fourth. It was another length and a half to the rest of the field, with Diminuendo being the best of the rest and placing fifth. Trump Princess, Killer Angels and Moonlight Bliss were close by. Rain Down, Wednesday, and Noble Moment round out the finishing order.

About the Winner- Nancy Broom Moytoy, trained by Team 7 Illusions, and ridden to victory by A Beschizza, is a three year old filly by Cherokee Sunset, and is out of Protection. She was bred in New York by Team 7 Illusions as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 14 starts, her third graded win and second Grade 1 win. Her career earnings are now $642.320.

Track: Firm
Time: :22⁴  :45³  1:09   1:33²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 10 – 2 Paid 140.30, 10 – 3 Paid 34.40
$1 Trifecta: 10 – 2 – 3 Paid 257.70, 10 – 3 – 2 Paid 386.00

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES