Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Moss’ consistent Cozi Rosie, piloted by hot-riding
Garrett Gomez, took the shortest way home along the inside rail to score
a hard-earned triumph in the featured $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes for
older fillies and mares Sunday.
Saving ground on the far turn and into the stretch, Cozi Rosie wore
down the pacesetting Wasted Tears, 2010 Mabee winner, in the final
sixteenth and went on to a half-length victory.
Malibu Pier, ridden by Brice Blanc, rallied gamely through the
stretch to shade Wasted Tears for runner-up money by a head, with
Harmonious, the 4-5 favorite under Joel Rosario, a closing fourth,
another half-length back.
Cozi Rosie, equipped with blinkers for the first time in her career
by trainer John Sadler and with Gomez aboard for the first time, ran the
nine furlongs over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course in a rapid
1:47.69. The final three furlongs were clocked in :35 flat with a last
furlong in a blazing 11 2/5 seconds.
Cozi Rosi, a four-year-old daughter of Pleasantly Perfect, went
postward the 4-1 third choice and rewarded her backers in a Sunday crowd
of 18,665 with $10.40, $5.20 and $3.60. First money of $150,000 after
her fifth success in 13 starts increased the filly’s earnings to
$477,280. Cozi Rosi also provided Gomez with his third winner of the
afternoon.
Malibu Pier paid $5.40 and $3.60, while Wasted Tears returned $3.60 to show.
Mike Mitchell, who Friday surpassed Hall of Famer Ron McAnally as Del
Mar’s winningest trainer of all time, expanded his margin over the
still active McAnally to four winners, 440-436, with a triple Sunday,
winning the first, fourth and tenth races.
With a carryover of $142,756 from Saturday and $1,148,729 wagered
Sunday, the Pick Six pool totaled $1,291,485. There was a single ticket
with all six winners and it was worth $756,415. Reportedly, the ticket,
representing an investment of $2,688, was purchased on-track at Del Mar.