Maryanorginger (Strong Mandate) looked to be in deep water after finding early trouble her rail draw in Thursday's Astoria S., but she showed ample determination and talent to find a way to win, garnering her diploma, first black-type tally and the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction all at once.
Backed at 3-1 with some buzz behind her as the lone first timer in this historic event, she stutter-stepped at the start, and found further trouble soon after that to get shuffled back to second last. The bay came alive heading for home while scraping paint, and tipped out for clear sailing into a :45.53 half. Perhaps idling slightly once she hit the front, she “skipped” on from there to deny race favorite Perfect Alibi (Sky Mesa)–who seemed to be checking out of it on the turn–by about 3/4 of a length in 1:03.94.
“The first time out it's really not the way you want to start against winners, but she's really been professional,” said trainer Jeremiah Englehart of the graduate of the late J.J. Crupi's New Castle Farm. “Other than a little rear up in the paddock, she's been really good and really smart. And I thought Jorge [Vargas, Jr.] did a good job. He let her settle and didn't get nervous.”
Of the decision to debut in this tough spot, the trainer said, “I was actually targeting a turf race, but everyone at the barn was telling me do dirt. And [owner] Al [Gold] likes to run his horses the first time on dirt. And I said, 'all right.'… [After her last workout I said] 'Why don't we take a shot at the Astoria? It'll be a tough field, but she's nice.' We took a shot and it paid off.”
Maryanorginger is the fourth black-type winner for her young sire Strong Mandate (Tiznow) and is out of a winning half-sister to GII Del Mar Futurity winner Icecoldbeeratreds (In Excess {Ire}) and his MSW full-sister Controlled, the dam of Sovereign Award winner and MGSW Bear Now (Tiznow) and SW & GSP Controlled Meeting (General Meeting). Timetobegone is the dam of a yearling filly by Temple City and a filly foal by Connect (Curlin).
ASTORIA S., $150,000, Belmont, 6-6, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:03.94, ft.
1–MARYANORGINGER, 117, f, 2, by Strong Mandate
1st Dam: Timetobegone, by Vindication
2nd Dam: Guilded Times, by Crafty Prospector
3rd Dam: Our Mahney, by Olden Times
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. ($25,000 Wlg '17 FTKNOV; $190,000 Ylg '18 FTKJUL). O-Gold Square LLC; B-C Kidder, N Cole & Linda Griggs (KY); T-Jeremiah C Englehart; J-Jorge A Vargas Jr. $87,000. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $87,000.
2–Perfect Alibi, 120, f, 2, Sky Mesa–No Use Denying, by Maria's Mon. ($220,000 Ylg '18 FTSAUG). O-Tracy Farmer; B-Pin Oak Stud LLC (KY); T-Mark E Casse. $30,000.
3–Talk You Out of It, 118, f, 2, Overanalyze–Mahala, by Indian Charlie. ($3,200 Ylg '18 FTKOCT). O-Windylea Farm LLC; B-Kim & Rodney Nardelli & Hans Albrecht (KY); T-Bruce R Brown. $15,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, 6 3/4. Odds: 3.30, 1.25, 18.40.
Also Ran: Reiterate, Punk Rock Princess, Twirling Owen, Ms Headley. Scratched: Dixie Mo, Sneaky Surprise.
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