Mary's Follies made her turf debut a successful one, taking over in upper stretch and then holding off a late charge from Kiawah Cat to win the $150,000 Boiling Springs (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO) by a half-length June 27 at Monmouth Park.
It was the third win in five starts this season for Mary’s Follies, who entered off an allowance victory on the Monmouth dirt earlier in the month. The daughter of More Than Ready was second by a neck in her lone stakes effort—the May 16 Just Smashing, also on Monmouth's main track. She is trained by local legend John Forbes.
In the 1 1/16-mile Boiling Springs, Mary's Follies saved ground near the inside under Stewart Elliott while Platinum Girl set a quick pace (:23.53 quarter and :46.77 half) with Joe Bravo aboard. Sandi's Ready and Obsequiouspressed the pace, while Mary's Follies raced in fourth.
Advancing between rivals on the inside as they turned for home, Mary's Follies was asked for more at the top of the lane. She responded by going by Sandi's Ready and Obsequious just beyond the eighth-pole and held on despite a late challenge by Kiawat Cat, who was last in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies after six furlongs.
Kiawah Cat, also making her graded stakes debut, settled for runner-up under Channing Hill, 1 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Obsequious. The final time over the "good" turf was 1:41.21.
“She really took to the grass today," Elliott said. "Early on, she was kind of eager as we were sitting in behind the early speed. I was expecting a hole to open up turning for home and I knew I had enough horse to go through it. It opened up for us in the lane and she just kicked on through. She really impressed me today and showed a liking for the turf.”
Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. David Randal, Mary’s Follies is out of the Miswaki mare Catch the Queen. The $40,000 Keeneland September 2007 yearling is owned by the partnership of James Dinan, BDL Stables, and Phantom House Farm. She is now 3-2-1 from six starts with earnings of $163,880.
“She’s a really neat filly," Forbes said. "This really opens up a whole new door for this horse. We’ll have to sit down and map out a plan with her. She certainly seemed to like the turf today and right now I can’t say whether she’ll stay on turf or not. Really, I’m just not sure right now, but we’ll come up with a plan for her.”
The winner paid $15.40, $8.20, and $5.40. The exacta (1-6) returned $182.20 and the $1 trifecta (1-6-7) was $841.30.
Blind Date, the 2-1 favorite, finished seventh after a wide trip.