NM Breeders Oaks ($120.000 Purse)
SUN- For Fillies Three Years Old Foaled in NM
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
March 22, 2020

I was skeptical about Mariana’s chances in this race, but she did what she needed to do, and trainer Greeko Holdem should be commended for getting more out of this filly. She started her career on the grass, and while she was not poor on the turf, she won her debut on the main track impressively against a small field. It was also her first time running with lasix. I thought that she would need to show more then that in order to get a win here, and in the NM Breeders Oaks, she did exactly that. It is the first win in the race for Greeko Holdem, and the second for her jockey, R Bejarano, who also won in 2014. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:42.76. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :24.36)- French Girlfriend, from T Boy Racing, is the quickest out of the gate, and is not shy about opening up a quick two and a half lead after two furlongs. It looked like Ms Rebel Rabbit, out of Stone Creek Farm, might run alongside her early, but she would be restrained to join the rest of the field. It was there that we saw the other entries as well, and they all ran together, in a four wide fashion. The eventual winner, Greeko Holdem’s Mariana, was on the rail, and to the outside of Ms Rebel Rabbit were Snakes And Ladders (Arindel) and Retrouvailles (T Boy Racing).

(½ Mile- :48.55)- Things changed quickly over the second quarter mile, as Retrouvailles made an assertive move exiting the opening turn and into the backstretch, the kind of push you’d prefer to see if it was coming down the homestretch. Regardless, she was now suddenly a half a length in front of French Girlfriend with the top spot. The two T Boy runners had a three length lead now on the rest of the field, with Mariana patiently allowing all of this to unfold in front of her. Snakes And Ladders did the same right beside her. Ms Rebel Rabbit was about a length behind those two now.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- The T Boy Racing stablemates continued to lead down the backstretch and into the turn, but midway through that turn, they saw their lead begin to shrink pretty quickly. All three of their rivals were making up ground, but none quicker then Mariana, who rode the rail before moving down a lane in an effort to split those in the T Boy silks. There was a decent opening there for her, and her quick advance made it seem inevitable that she was about to take the lead and her biggest concerns would probably be from behind if they were also making a move. However, neither Snakes And Ladders nor Ms Rebel Rabbit had the same ambition.

(Finish- 1:42.76)- Mariana took the opening in the stretch, and quickly did away with the two front runners. Still in a good stride and without any further challenge coming from behind, all that was left for her to go was cross the finish line. Mariana wins comfortably by two. French Girlfriend was good enough in the stretch to maintain second, and the post time favorite, Ms Rebel Rabbit gets up for third ahead of Retrouvailles. Snakes And Ladders was non factor today.

About The Winner- Mariana, trained by Greeko Holdem, and ridden to victory by R Bejarano, is a three year old filly by Growl, and is out of Us Senate. She was bred in New Mexico by Greeko Holdem as a third quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her second in five starts, and it is her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $92.470.

Track: Fast
Time: :24¹  :48²  1:12¹  1:42³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 1 Paid 15.40
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 1 – 5 Paid 20.30

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded