Red Carpet Stakes (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
DMR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and Three Eighths on the Turf
November 21, 2015

This scene has been played out before in Hollywood.   A group of accomplished stars assemble for their chance to win a leading role, only to be stymied by the young up and coming actress.  The Red Carpet Stakes had it’s group of older horses who had done some very good credentials on their resume over longer careers.  Then there was that younger filly with only three starts who hadn’t really had the same type of impressive resume in those starts.   All that wouldn’t matter today, as in just her fourth start, the winning role in the Red Carpet Stakes belongs to Leave Me Alone and Mb Stables.  After a performance like today, this will not be the only movie she ever stars in.    For the trainer, it is his second win in the last three runnings of this race, having also won in 2012 with Good Lady G. The race was not contested in 2013. It is the first time that jockey D Van Dyke has been in the winners circle for this stake.  The race time of 2:12.86 was slower then last year’s which is the only other time this race has been an eleven furlong event.  So having said all that, here’s a race review.

1st- 6- Leave Me Alone (3/1)- Our eventual race winner for Mb Stables was not interested in the fractions being set up front.  D Van Dyke kept her at the back of the pack, running in the second threesome that was well off the pace early.  Midway into the backstretch run, Leave Me Alone began making her move towards the run, and even before they reached the turned, she made up a two lengths on the leader and was within a length of second.  While running wide, she had the two others who had been running with her since the start also look to make their moves with Grand Mystique looking particularly formidable.  As both of them made their way to emerge as the top two horses, there were several times where it looked like Grand Mystique was pulling even just too have Leave Me Alone inch forward a little more.  The trainer has to be thrilled with the heart and desire that his filly showed in this race, because that is what got her this win today.  Congratulations to the connections! Leave Me Alone is a three year old filly by Red Rioja and out Valuabelle (by Five Fives).  She was bred in Ontario by Mb Stables, the only trainer for which she has ever known.  It is the 210th career graded stake win for the trainer!

2nd- 3- Grand Mystique (202/1)- The huge longshot made people very happy today.  The Triple T Racing entry got off to an average start, but was running along the rail with Shes A Dog and Leave Me Alone and not concerned with what the frontrunners were doing. A O Solis reacted to the move of Leave Me Alone in the backstretch, and Grand Mystique handled the turn looking very strong.  She began to match strides with our eventual winner throughout the turn and into the stretch as they each prepared to give Last Gesture the slip.  Grand Mystique did everything she could, and you can not ask for any more out of the effort she showed today.  She should have plenty of racing ahead of her as well, and perhaps her and Leave Me Alone will meet again soon.

3rd- 5- Shes A Dog (17/1)- After the first three got away in the early stages, the second group of three (who end up taking the top three spots) were seven lengths off the pace.  The Wolfs Den entry was the leader of this second threesome.  Content to maintain a steady stride for much of the backstretch, J Talamo realized that he needed to get her moving as well when Leave Me Alone began to kick it in gear.  She was good in the stretch, but Grand Mystique and Leave Me Alone just had a little more and she could not quite keep up with them.  Still, this a performance that should make the trainer happy.

4th- 2- Last Gesture (2/1)- Quick out of the gate for Oval Express Farms and led the field down the frontstretch for the first time.  She would set the opening half mile in a time of :48.93.  Continued to lead through the second turn, running six furlongs in 1:12.76 as they made their way into the backstretch.  Continued to try to hold this lead for as long as she could, but the closers were coming with too much power in their strides for Last Gesture too hold off.  In the end she puts forth a solid fourth place finish.

5th- 1- Princess Mandy (15/1)- Got off to a good start for Night Rider Stables, stalking Last Gesture by about a length early.  During the turn, she began to back off of Last Gesture and Onorata Rodiana just a bit and was about three lengths back as they moved into the backstretch.  During the turn, this once great racehorse simply had nothing for those that were passing her from behind.  She simply lacked what we once saw out of her and you have to wonder this time of year if she too, will be on her way to her second career soon.

6th- 4- Onorata Rodiana (1/1)-   Our pre-race pick and post time favorite once again has disappointed.  How much more of this are the bettors going to take?  Well, apparently no more.  Because trainer Team 7 Illusions announced her retirement after the race and she has amazingly already produced a foal!  No word as to whether or not she was secretly pregnant while she was running and this is an excuse for the performance.

Track: Firm
Time: :48⁴  1:12³  1:36²  2:12⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 3 Paid 158.10
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 3 – 5 Paid 296.60

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES