The Martin Racing Stable
and Dan Morgan’s Dubai Majesty swept past favored Hot Dixie
Chick on the far turn and cruised to an authoritative 4 ½-length victory
over Secret Gypsy in the seventh running of the $110,500 Winning Colors
(Grade III) for fillies and mares on Monday at Churchill Downs.
Miguel Mena posted
his third victory of the afternoon and his 200th
career triumph at Churchill Downs with the score aboard Dubai Majesty, who
covered the six furlongs on a fast main track in the stakes-record time of
1:08.07. The previous stakes mark was established by Miss Macy Sue with
a 1:08.68 clocking in 2007.
Trained by Bret Calhoun,
the 5-year-old Dubai Majesty became the first repeat winner of the Winning
Colors. The victory was worth $66,455 and increased Dubai Majesty’s earnings to
$681,343 with a record of 29-9-6-5. Dubai Majesty is a Florida-bred daughter of
Essence of Dubai out of the Great Above mare Great Majesty.
Hot Dixie Chick, ridden by Robby
Albarado, set the pace with Dubai Majesty just to her outside through a
first quarter of a mile in :21.80. Approaching the far turn, Mena moved Dubai
Majesty after the leader and opened a clear lead of the head of the stretch
after a half-mile in 44:54.
Hot Dixie Chick tried to battle
back but yielded at the eighth pole as Secret Gypsy, ridden by Francisco
Torres, raced past to secure second by a length. Hot Dixie Chick held third
by a length over Double Espresso, who was followed in order by Emmy
Darling, Minewander, J Z Warrior and Nadeshiko.
Dubai Majesty returned $6.80,
$4.20 and $2.80. Secret Gypsy paid $16.60 and $6.20 with Hot Dixie Chick paying
$2.40 to show.
Racing at Churchill Downs will
resume Friday with an 11-race program that begins at 2:45 p.m. (EDT). There
will be a Pick 6 carryover of $3,233 on races 6-11. The racetrack will be open
for simulcast wagering on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. with free general admission.
WINNING COLORS
QUOTES
MIGUEL MENA (jockey, DUBAI MAJESTY, winner):
“She was galloping nice and comfortable. I could tell I had more horse. I tried
to stay away from the favorite (Hot Dixie Chick) because I was 100 percent
better. I just waited and when I asked her she exploded. I never hit her. She
went pretty easy. The connections did a good job. The boss said, ‘Get it out of
there because sometimes she breaks slow,’ so I got her out of there. We got the
best post position outside. We can either be on the lead or stalk. They said
make her break good and see how it goes.”
DENNIS “PEACHES” GEIER
(assistant trainer, BRET CALHOUN, DUBAI
MAJESTY, winner): “We don’t know why she ran like she did in her last race
(last in the Humana Distaff on Derby Day). She made up for if today. She ran
great today. (Jockey) Miguel (Mena) had her stalking behind the five (Hot Dixie
Chick) and when he asked her she made a great move. We knew she had this in
her. We don’t have a race yet picked out for her, but we will see how she comes
back. We will look at either a grass race or dirt. We want to try her on grass
at some point. She really ran great.”
FRANCISCO TORRES (jockey,
SECRET GYPSY, second): “I tell you what, (trainer) Ronny (Werner) and I
talked about how this race would develop and its how we wanted her to run. But
she is a speed-biased filly and the speed bias wasn’t working.”
ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, HOT DIXIE CHICK, third): “Great trip, good job, ran good.
It wasn’t easy on the lead. We went fast but the eventual winner was right next
to me the whole way. Those were quality fillies here.”