Latonia Stakes ($100.000 Purse)
TP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Dirt
March 14, 2020

The elements played a small role for the Latonia Stakes, as passing rain showers dampened the track just enough to have it be downgraded to good. This was a small field, with only three trainers sending a total of four horses to the starting gate. As such, I’m not going to spend too much time with it, but congratulations to Mb Stables, who wins the race for the first time, and that is also true for jockey G Saez. They did this with Orange Beach, who is now also a first time stake winner. The time of that win was 1:37.47. Here’s a look.

1st- 2- Orange Beach (3/5)- Went right to the lead for Mb Stables, and led after a quarter mile of :24.46, by about a length. She was able to maintain her consistent stride around the opening turn and into the backstretch, running half a mile in :48.48, and putting away an attempt by Speedy Ginger to take the lead from her over this portion of the race. Pulled away a little more in the turn, and it seemed as though she was putting away Speedy Ginger at that point. However, once in the stretch, she had to work hard again to hold off her resurgent rival. The wire would come up just in time, and she would prevail in a close photo.

2nd- 4- Speedy Ginger (1/1)- Had a steady start for The Sidley Stud, and was in a stalking position early as the three non leaders ran side by side by side. Approaching the backstretch, she looked as though she wanted to take a shot at the lead, and pulled up alongside Orange Beach for a moment. After taking that shot, it seemed as though she was going to have to settle for second, but would not give in. In the stretch, she recovered and bounced back, but would miss by a neck.

3rd- 1- Minnesotalus (31/1)- The other Sidley Stud runner looked like she might have wanted to run with Orange Beach a little more at the start, but then backed into the stalking position. Did not advance when her stablemate did, and backed off the pursuit even more in the backstretch, now trailing by two and a half. That is a deficit should would never regain, as she was never a factor here.

4th- 3- The Real Jess (17/1)- The runner from Asgar got off to a similar start as Speedy Ginger, not forcing the issue, and content to run with one on each side of her early on. Retreated in the backstretch by a couple lengths, and was never a factor at any point thereafter.

About The Winner- Orange Beach, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by G Saez, is a four year old filly by Born To Be Bad, and is out of Make A Promise. She was bred in California by Oquinn Farm as a first quarter two year old, and acquired by Mb Stables for $100.000 in a February 2019 private sale. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 13 starts, and her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $235.510.

Track: Good
Time: :24²  :48²  1:12¹  1:37²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 4 Paid 2.70

Scratched: None

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded