Unbeaten Delightful Mary, a $500,000 2-year-old in training purchase in Florida that won the first two starts of her career impressively, heads the field for the $225,000 Mazarine Stakes (Can-III) Oct. 9 at Woodbine.
The daughter of Limehouse out of the winning French Deputy mare Deputy's Delight was part of the Hobeau Farm dispersal at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale in April following the death of Hobeau owner Jack J. Dreyfus Jr. Trainer Mark Casse purchased Delightful Mary, now owned by John Oxley.
The chestnut filly makes her stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine, which attracted a field of six juvenile fillies to Woodbine's Polytrack. Delightful Mary debuted over the track at six furlongs Aug. 8, winning by 3 3/4 lengths as the favorite after forcing the pace into the stretch. In her next start, at one mile and 70 yards Sept. 12, she dominated her three rivals by eight lengths while in hand throughout at odds of 2-5.
Bred in Florida, Delightful Mary is a half-sister to millionaire Delightful Kiss (by Kissin Kris), a multiple graded stakes winner who captured the 2007 Ohio Derby (gr. II).
Corey Fraser, who has been aboard Delightful Mary in both of her prior races, maintains the mount. They will break from post 2. Fraser won the Mazarine in 2006 aboard Coy Coyote for trainer Michael Dickinson. Casse has won the race twice previously, with Officer Cherie in 2007 and Higher World in 2004.
Three of Delightful Mary's rivals in the Mazarine are coming off maiden victories while the other two are seeking the first wins of their career.
Anne's Beauty, a 2 1/4-length winner in her second start Aug. 27 at Woodbine for owner Robert Smithen and trainer Paul Attard, provided the first victory for her sire, 2005 NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. It) champion Artie Schiller . The victory at 6 1/2 furlongs made the Kentucky-bred Anne's Beauty the second winner from two foals of racing age out of the winning mare Lucky Streak, a daughter of Sea Wall.
Richard Forbush and Doug Oliver are the breeders of Anne’s Beauty, who drew the rail with David Clark in the irons.
Beverly Anderson's Wyomia is coming off a 5 1/4-length triumph over maidens at one mile and 70 yards Sept. 19 in her second start for trainer Daniel Vella. The Vindication filly, racing with Lasix for the first time, will be ridden from post 3 by Emile Ramsammy.
Poof Too, a supplemental entry to the Mazarine by trainer Mark Frostad for owner John Fielding, won her debut at 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 9 by one length. Patrick Husbands rides the daughter of Distorted Humor .
Ontario-bred maiden Idratherbeatthespa, also supplemented to the race, debuted with a fourth-place finish at seven furlongs for trainer Casse and owners Quintessential Racing Florida and Norman Casse Sr.
In from Delaware Park is the Elkstone Group's Ghostly Darkness, trained by Christophe Clement. The Ghostzapper filly had a second and a third in two starts at Delaware this summer, both at one mile and 70 yards.
The Mazarine is the sixth race on the Woodbine program with a 3:25 p.m. EDT post.
$225,000 Mazarine Stakes (Can-III, Race 6, 3:25 p.m.), 2-Year-old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Synthetic)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Anne's Beauty (KY), D Clark, 116, P Attard
2. Delightful Mary (FL), C Fraser, 116, M E Casse
3. Wyomia (KY), E Ramsammy, 116, D J Vella
4. Poof Too (KY), P Husbands, 116, M R Frostad
5. Ghostly Darkness (KY), E R Da Silva, 114, C Clement
6. Idratherbeatthespa (ON), C Fraser, 114, M E Casse