Synthetic surface specialist Mary Delaney took the lead shortly after the start and never looked back Wednesday to take Keeneland's Vinery Madison Stakes (gr. II) (VIDEO) in impressive fashion.
The 4-year-old Hennessy filly has won five of seven starts—and four consecutive races—on Polytrack. She is two-for-two at Keeneland.
Trained by Eddie Kennealy for Fergus Galvin, Mary Delaney had won her previous three starts at Turfway Park, which also has Polytrack. Her last two scores there were in the Queen and Wishing Well Stakes.
Under Edgar Prado, Mary Delaney was outbroken by Miss Norman, but Mary Delaney quickly moved to the front, opened up down the backside, and kicked home to win the $200,000 seven furlong stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over Ginger Punch and Leah's Secret. It was another head back to fourth-place Bright Abundance, followed by Modjadji, Morethanaprincess, Miss Norman, Yolanda B. Too, Hot Storm and Atlas Valley. Annika Lass was scratched. The winner completed the seven furlongs in 1:22.24.
Bred in Kentucky by Mary Anne Parris and Ashford Stud, Mary Delaney is out of the Crafty Prospector mare Crafty Emerald. She not only won at Keeneland but was sold there, for $85,000 as a yearling.
Mary Delaney paid $7.80, $4.60, and $3.60 while Miss Norman returned $5 and $3.80. Leah's Secret paid $3.60 to show.
“Today she broke running out of the gate and relaxed beautifully,” said Prado. “She gave me extra the last eighth of a mile. She did a good job.”
“She absolutely loves the Polytrack, she really does,” said Kenneally.
(Chart, Equibase)
