Irish Maxima. (Jim McCue/MJC)
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David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Irish Three Racing’s Irish Maxima, making just her second start of the year, used a change of tactics to stalk pacesetting favorite Youalmosthadme and come with a steady run through the lane for a 9-1 upset of Sunday’s $100,000 Weather Vane at Laurel Park.
The fifth running of the six-furlong Weather Vane for 3-year-old fillies was the first of two stakes on the program, followed by the 42nd renewal of the one-mile Twixt for fillies and mares 3 and up.
Ridden by Frankie Pennington for Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1)-winning trainer John Servis, Irish Maxima ($20.20) completed the distance in 1:11.25 over a main track rated good for her fourth career win, second in a row and first in a stakes.
Four-time stakes winner Youalmosthadme, trained by Brad Cox, broke running from the far outside post and was intent on the lead, going the opening quarter-mile in 22.05 seconds with fellow multiple stakes winner Carmelina in second on the rail and Irish Maxima in the clear in third while racing two wide.
Youalmosthadme clung to a short lead as the field exited the far turn, but Irish Maxima was right alongside ready to pounce, and responded after being set down for a drive to gradually reel in the 2-1 betting favorite and surge to the wire in front by three-quarters of a length. Youalmosthadme held second, a neck in front of late-running Roanan Goddess.
Discreet Ops, Carmelina, Cap Classique, Vincey Girl, Yellow Feathers, Runaway Diva, Brookmesa and Dewey Doit completed the order of finish. Popover Girl and Miss Harriett were scratched.
“She’s such a sharp filly. Me and Servis talked today, and he said, “There’s some speed in the race so if they break going crazy, I don’t think she has to be on the lead,’” Pennington said. “They broke and they were sending pretty good. She sat and she rated pretty well and finished up pretty well.”
Irish Maxima raced four times as a 2-year-old with two wins including a 6 ¾-length optional claiming allowance triumph last September at historic Pimlico Race Course. She then ran fifth in the Frizette (G1) and 10th to Youalmosthadme in the Fern Creek on Thanksgiving weekend before going to the sidelines, returning with a front-running triumph over older horses sprinting 5 ½ furlongs Aug. 22 at Delaware Park.
Her prior start was the first time Pennington, a winner of more than 3,000 career races, had been aboard Irish Maxima, a daughter of Maximus Mischief that had shown speed in each of her first five races.
“I wasn’t concerned about her not finishing. I was more concerned about the dirt maybe first time hitting her and her maybe climbing a little bit,” he said. “When [Youalmosthadme] came over, she came out and she handled it like a true veteran. She showed up good. She was still strong galloping out.”
The Weather Vane pays homage to the Maryland-bred mare trained by Richard W. Delp that won 17 races and $724,532 in purses from 1996 to 1998. A former claimer bred by William B. Delp, Weather Vane went on to register 14 stakes victories including the Safely Kept (G3) and Miss Preakness in 1997, the latter before it was graded, and capped her career by being named Maryland-bred champion older female of 1998.
