Dubai Majesty notched her second stakes win of season Oct. 16 at Keeneland, edging clear of Libor Lady in mid-stretch en route to a 1 1/4–length victory in the $116,700 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes (VIDEO).
A 4-year-old filly by Essence of Dubai, the winner raced in third in the early going under Jamie Theriot, advanced on the turn when confronting pacesetter Libor Lady, and took over approaching the sixteenth pole.
The final time on a turf course labeled soft was 1:03.64 for 5 1/2 furlongs. Libor Lady, who set fractions of :21.83 and :45.16, was the runner-up under Robby Albarado, 8 1/4 lengths ahead of Nadeshiko. Taletobetold was fourth in the field of 11 sprinters.
Bret Calhoun trains Dubai Majesty for Martin Racing Stable and Dan Morgan.
It was just the second start on turf this season for Dubai Majesty. Last out in the Turf Amazon Handicap at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, the dark bay finished third on the yielding turf course, missing by a head to Canadian Ballet. The morning-line favorite for the Franklin County, Canadian Ballet was scratched.
"She's a little different on the grass," Theriot said. "She can finish a lot stronger and I think she can go a lot of ground on the grass."
In May at Churchill Downs, Dubai Majesty scored in the Winning Colors (gr. III) for her lone graded stakes win. Overall, she is now 8-3-5 from 23 lifetime starts and has earnings of $491,477. She was bred in Florida by Harold Plumley.
Sent off as the 2-1 choice in the Franklin County, Dubai Majesty paid $6.20, $3.40, and $2.80. The exacta (4-2) returned $23.60 and the trifecta (4-2-1) was $269.
