Seaway Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
August 8, 2015

Mondo Grosso appeared to be the horse to beat heading into the race.  She was carrying four more pounds then everyone else, but it seemed as though she would be able to overcome that.   Maverick Racing wanted to get his eight year old mare back into the winners circle, and entered Miss Debate for strategic purposes.  Given that Miss Debate, a traditional closer, was sent onto the lead aggressively, we are left to assume that Maverick was hoping that either Mischief Made or Protection would go along with her, and Mondo Grosso could pick up the pieces in the end.  Unfortunately for the trainer, that plan backfired as no one went with Miss Debate, and in fact the rabbit’s run actually set the race up perfectly for Mischief Made and Protection, and not for Mondo Grosso.  Both patiently waited for their time to strike, and each put together a strong stretch run.  By about half a length, Mischief Made would defeat Protection and earn Mb Stables his second Seaway Stakes win in the last three years.  It’s the first time Alan Garcia was aboard the winner in this race.  The winning time of 1:22.23 was the second fastest in the stakes history.  Let’s take a deeper look at how it unfolded!

1st- 3- Mischief Made (7/5)- The eventual race winner from Mb Stables was good out of the gate initially, but after the opening quarter, Alan Garcia held her back from chasing Miss Debate; choosing to save ground about two to three lengths from the lead.  She maintained this position until midway through the turn where Garcia began to move her forward.   Mischief Made handled the turn brilliantly, and by the top of the stretch she was nearly level with Miss Debate, and still had Mondo Grosso three lengths behind her.  In the stretch, it was clear that it was going to come down to her and Protection.  The two of them passed Miss Debate simultaneously.  She emerged about a neck in front with a furlong to go, and maintained this advantage over Protection until the end to get the win!  Mischief Made is a three year old filly by Jesse James and out of the late Elusive Ball, part of the Steel Ball bloodline.  She was bred in New York by Mb Stables, who is the only owner she has ever known.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 1- Protection (3/5)- The post time favorite from Team 7 Illusions got off to a good start, content to stay on the rail and run beside Mischief made for the run down the backstretch.   Stayed three lengths or so off the lead into the turn, at which time D Moran began to make his move with her, responding to the advancements made by Mischief Made.  Together, the two of them reeled in the pacesetter as the stretch run was ready to begin.  Passed Miss Debate in the stretch to the inside while Mischief Made went by on the outside.  She would run well in the stretch, but not quite as well as did the winner.

3rd- 2- Mondo Grosso (6/1)- Surprised to see her go off at this high a price, but this time the bettors proved to be right!  Content to trail the field early while her Maverick Racing stablemate set the opening fractions.  Even when it came clear that Mischief Made and Protection were not interested in running with Miss Debate, E J Wilson made a costly decision by not getting Mondo Grosso up there closer with those two much earlier.  She made a closing bid, but because the top two were also in great stride, that didn’t amount too much.  In fact, she barely got by Miss Debate.  Disappointing run however you look at it.

4th- 4- Miss Debate (27/1)- The traditional closer was sent aggressively out to the lead for her trainer, Maverick Racing.  She would set the early fractions in :23 3/5, and :46 4/5.  To her credit, she hung in there a little more then we may have expected and almost remained in front of Mondo Grosso, conceding that position in the dying moments.   This is not a bad horse, and we’ll look forward to seeing her in races where she can run her own a race, and not just set a pace.

Track: Fast
Time: :23³  :46⁴  1:10²  1:22¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 1 Paid 2.60

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III