Marjoram rallies in deep stretch to steal the G3 Senorita Stakes, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Marjoram, a homebred for international powerhouse Juddmonte, looks to have a bright future after getting up late to win her stakes debut in the Grade III, $100,000 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course Saturday at Santa Anita.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Marjoram was making just her third start and second following a four-month layoff. The daughter of Quality Road, who’s had troubled starts previously, found herself in last after again breaking slowly in the Senorita. The slightly tardy start didn’t matter for Marjoram and jockey Juan Hernandez. Marjoram gradually inched closer to the leaders when descending the hill and split horses inside the final furlong to best 3-2 favorite Light Won Up by a head on the wire. It was a half-length back to longshot Yours Sincerely (13-1) in third followed by Revera (36-1) and Surfin’ U.S.A. (16-1).
Marjoram in her previous start, a first-level allowance on the hillside turf course on April 4, stumbled badly out of the gate to lose all hope and ran on to be fifth.
“She’s a little excited when she sees the gate,” said Hernandez, who was also aboard for the allowance try. “Michael McCarthy and his team did a great job with her. They took her to the gate. He told me before the race she was doing good. She was a little nervous today, but way better than last time.
“I broke last, she had no speed, so I just decided to chill and wait until we crossed the dirt. When we crossed the dirt, I saw a hole and I asked her to pick it up. She did pretty good and passed all of them. She’s a nice filly. She’s just a little excited but can run.”
Marjoram won in a time of 1:13.78 following fractions of 22.22, 44.93 and 1:07.84, which are moderate for the downhill course.
“Hats off to Juan and this filly here, they were game today,” McCarthy said. “Had a couple of anxious moments, not quite as anxious as last time she ran.”
Prior to her troubled allowance effort last month, Marjoram won her debut in November going six furlongs on dirt after another slow start at Churchill Downs.
“She has shown us quite a bit in the morning here,” McCarthy said. “She has shown a lot of tenacity. Obviously, her first race, she didn’t break well either and made a huge middle move that day to get up and get the job done on a little bit of a wet-fast racetrack. So to go ahead and get it done on the turf (today), she’s a dual threat.”
Marjoram paid $9.20, $5.60 and $3.80. Light Won Up, ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Doug O’Neill, returned $3.20 and $2.60. Yours Sincerely, with Kyle Frey up for trainer Phil D’Amato, paid $5.60.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT.
GRADE III, SENORITA STAKES
JOCKEY QUOTES
JUAN HERNANDEZ, MARJORAM, WINNER: “She’s a little excited when she sees the gate. I think that’s what happened last time. She stumbled badly and I almost lost my balance. Michael McCarthy and his team did a good job with her. They took her to the gate. He told me before the race she was doing good. She was a little nervous today, but way better than last time. I broke last, she had no speed, so I just decided to chill and wait until we crossed the dirt. When we crossed the dirt, I saw a hole and I asked her to pick it up. She did pretty good as she passed all of them. She’s a nice filly. She’s just a little excited but can run.”
TRAINER QUOTES
MICHAEL MCCARTHY, MARJORAM, WINNER: “We’ve had a pretty good run here the past few weeks. Hats off to Juan and this filly here, Marjoram, they were game today. Had a couple of anxious moments, not quite as anxious as last time she ran. She got stuck behind a stopping horse as we crossed the dirt and didn’t break well. Didn’t break well again today, but she was good enough in the end. She has shown us quite a bit in the morning here. She has shown a lot of tenacity. Obviously, her first race, she didn’t break well either and made a huge middle move that day to get up and get the job done on a little bit of a wet-fast racetrack, so to go ahead and get it done on the turf (today), she’s a dual threat.”
NOTES: The winning owner and breeders are Juddmonte.
