Dynaformer Filly Rallies For Edgewood Victory

Maliziosa, a Florida-bred daughter of Dynaformer, rallied in the middle of the turf course to post a 1 1/2-length triumph over favored Cellars Shiraz in the $100,000-added Edgewood Stakes, the first stake on the Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Jerry Bailey for trainer Bill Mott, Maliziosa posted her second consecutive victory in the 1 mile turf test. The filly, owned by her breeder, the Haras Santa Maria de Araras of Julio Bozano, has been campaigned only on grass in her six-race career. Maliziosa broke her maiden in her second career effort and was winless in two other starts before taking a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Keeneland.

Longshot Hi Tech Honeycomb jumped to an early lead while being stalked by You'llbeinmyheart. The two pacesetters posted fractions of :23 1/5, :47 4/5, 1:13, and 1:25 2/5 before being joined by the closers in the stretch. The final time was 1:37 3/5.

Maliziosa paid $12.80, $6.40, and $4.00. Cellars Shiraz was worth $4.00 and $3.20, while Traci's Wild finished a nose back in third and paid $5.40.

"She gave me a great run," Bailey said. "She's got real high action. That's the reason she's such a good grass filly. If they ran her on dirt, I think she'd waste a lot of her movement."

"She impressed me," Mott said. "She really punched. She was laying up a lot closer than normal today. When he asked her, when he hit the bottom, she really went. She's just a turf-action filly."

Mott said Maliziosa would likely run in the July 6 American Oaks at Hollywood Park in her next start.

(Chart, Equibase)