Time’s Mistress wore down Silver Knockers in the stretch en route to a 1 3/4-length upset victory in Friday’s $125,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO) for 3-year-old fillies at Pimlico.
Ridden by Mark Guidry at odds of nearly 8-1, the daughter of Mr. Greeley posted her fourth victory in 11 career starts and her first win since taking the Honey Bee Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 16. She earned her first graded win Friday.
Trained by D. Wayne Lukas for Charles Kidder, Time’s Mistress returned $17.80, $6, and $3.80. Silver Knockers, the 2-1 second choice who had assumed the lead when she overtook from the fading pacesetter Your Flame in Me held on for second, paying $3.60 and $2.80. Richwoman was third, returning $4.20.
“I was pleased with this," Lukas said. "This was a good effort."
Your Flame in Me, the even-money favorite in a field of seven, tracked by Silver Knockers, jumped out to an early lead, setting fracgtions of :22 1/5 and :45 4/5. After the five furlongs were completed in :57 4/5, the final time for six furlongs was 1:10 2/5.
Time's Mistress was shifted to the rail by Guidry soon after the opening quarter mile and tracked the leaders from mid-pack while under a light hold. She advanced on the turn, easing to the outside of Silver Knockers for the stretch run and took command under steady right-handed urging to win going away.
Guidry said Time's Mistress was well prepared for a winning effort. "The pace was a little quicker than I anticipated, but they kind of collapsed on the front end,” he said.
Silver Knockers, ridden by Joe Bravo, finished 3 3/4 lengths in front of Richwoman, who rallied mildly on the outside for Javier Castellano.
Acadia Breeze, Your Flame in Me, Magnetic Miss and Sea the Joy completed the order. You Asked and Five Star Daydream scratched.
Your Flame in Me, who stumbled at the start before going to the lead, had won all three of her previous starts by a combined margin of nearly 20 lengths, including a nine-length romp in the Xtra Heat at Pimlico April 28.
“She was trying to get out for some reason today," said Michael Trombetta, trainer of Your Flame in Me. "We have a bit of work to do with her. She’s still young. You may see her with blinkers on the next time she runs.”
"This horse just had a horrific trip the last time,"Lukas said. "I think she’s a little better at this distance. I think I’ll keep her under a mile if I can.”
Friday's winning purse of $75,000 increased Time's Mistress' earnings to $214,761. Bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor in Kentucky, the chestnut filly is out of Doyenne, by Deputy Minister. She was a $65,000 Keeneland sale in November 2004.
(Chart, Equibase)