Undefeated Final Mesa made it three wins at three different tracks when she ran away from her four rivals to capture the $149,139 My Dear Stakes (VIDEO) as the 3-10 choice at Woodbine June 26.
Owned and trained by Wesley Ward, the 2-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa --Final Style, by Smart Style, won by 7 3/4 lengths while completing the five-furlong distance in a sharp :57.22 over Woodbine's Polytrack. The My Dear is the first stakes for 2-year-old fillies of the Woodbine season.
Ridden by Eibar Coa, Final Mesa vied for the early lead with Where Did She Go on her outside and Mimi's Missy at the rail, and opened up in the stretch by 2 1/2 lengths after fractions of :22.36 and :45.23. She widened the advantage from the eighth pole under even handling.
Final Mesa is yet to be tested, breaking her maiden at first asking by 7 1/2 lengths at Keeneland April 16, then winning a stakes at Delaware Park May 15 by 4 3/4 lengths. Both of earlier efforts were at 4 1/2 furlongs.
The New York-bred bay filly earned $86,877 for the My Dear victory. Supplemented to the race by Ward, she paid $2.70, $2.10 and $2.10.
“Before today’s race, I believe she already showed how good she is,” said Coa, who rode Final Mesa for the first time. “In the first 100 yards, I was wondering if she was going to relax for me or if she was wondering what was happening around her.
“This is a very nice filly. When they give you more than you expect, that’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Where Did She Go ($3.40, $2.20), with David Clark aboard, finished second by a neck over second choice Mimi's Missy ($2.10) and Luis Contreras. Canadian Lady and Wheres the Bedroom trailed.
Carmine Telesca and John Guerrera bred the Final Mesa, a $72,000 yearling buy at Saratoga last August.
