Maman Joon #5 with Vincent Cheminaud aboard flies to the finish in the Violet Stakes. (Melissa Torres/EQUI-PHOTO)
Crazy Frazy Prevails After Stretch Duel In Sapling Stakes
Tom Luicci/Monmouth Park
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Slow early fractions were not an issue for Maman Joon to overcome with her late-running style this time as the Chad Brown-trainee unleashed a strong late kick to earn her first stakes victory with a 1¾- length score in Saturday’s $100,000 Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park.
In the co-featured $200,000 Sapling Stakes, Crazy Frazy survived a stretch-long duel with Global Legend to win the 90th edition of the one-mile race for 2-year-olds, prevailing by a head.
Maman Joon, who won her first two starts for Brown after being transferred to his barn this spring, was pace-compromised in a pair of Grade 3 events her past two starts, though she turned in solid efforts in both.
The odds-on favorite in the field six fillies and mares, 3 & up, Maman Joon paid $2.60 to win.
The winning time for the mile and a sixteenth over a turf course listed as firm was 1:45.34.
“I wasn’t really worried about the slow fractions because she was kind of close this time,” said Luis Cabrera, who oversees Brown’s division at Monmouth Park. “She wasn’t too far back. So, I knew as soon as he moved her outside, she would be running. (Jockey Vince Cheminaud) moved a little earlier with her this time so it was perfect.”
Though fifth throughout early fractions of :24.93, :50.47 and 1:15.46 to six furlongs, Cheminaud had the 4-year-old daughter of Irish sire See the Stars clear on the outside, finally asking her to go midway through the final turn. She collared leaders Damaso and Blood Orange in the final sixteenth of a mile, with Beach Bomb, the shipper from South Africa, making a belated run to get second. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Damaso.
“I rode her a little differently this time,” said Cheminaud, who has been aboard Maman Joon for all five starts since Brown took over her training. “Last time I was maybe a little too aggressive. Today I preferred to race her outside and keep her relaxed. She’s a nice filly but sometimes she can get a little eager. I rode her very quietly. There were only six in the field so I knew she would be able to make her late run if I got her to relax.”
Maman Joon, owned by Amo Racing USA, was second in the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes, beaten just three quarters of a length, before a fifth-place finish in her last start in the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes. She was only 3¼ lengths back of stablemate and Grade 1 winner Beaute Cachee that day.
Both of those graded stakes went in 1:15 for three-quarters of a mile as well. But she was not facing graded stakes company this time.
“I feel very good for the filly,” said Cabrera. “She has her first stakes win and I knew she was capable of doing that so it’s a good feeling. She deserves this. She always tries.”
Crazy Frazy, trained by Jorge Delgado and ridden by Carlos Rojas, moved three-wide heading into the final turn, with Global Legend and Joe Bravo slipping up the rail to engage them.
The two fought for the length of the stretch before Crazy Frazy poked his head in front at the finish line. It was another 17 lengths back in third to Roxton.
The winning time for the mile was 1:39.55, with Crazy Frazy returning $9.60 to win.
Owned by Lea Farms, Crazy Frazy came in off a fourth-place finish in the Tyro Stakes at five furlongs on the grass. The Kentucky-bred son of Blame now has two wins and a second from four career starts.
