Stretching out to 1 5/16 miles proved successful for Michael Milam's Neecie Marie in the Sept. 7 Ladies Marathon Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs. Now, the 4-year-old Cross Traffic filly will stretch out further to 1 1/2 miles in the $300,000 Dowager Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland Oct. 20.
The Pennsylvania-bred Robert "Butch" Reid Jr. trainee is well traveled with Keeneland set to become her eighth track in career start No. 15. A two-time graded stakes winner, Neecie Marie has banked $1,147,750.
Jockey Joel Rosario, who rode her to perfection in her 2 3/4-length triumph at Kentucky Downs, will need to navigate a trip from the far outside of the overflow field of 12.
Video: Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon S. (G3T)
On the rail is Merry Fox Stables' Three Priests, who was third to Neecie Marie at Kentucky Downs while making her United States debut. Then trained by Roger Varian, she has stayed stateside and joined the barn of Graham Motion.
Two other runners from the Ladies Marathon—fifth-place Chop Chop and sixth-place Forever After All—return in this spot. Selective's Chop Chop won Keeneland's 1 1/2-mile Bewitch Stakes (G3T) in April. A win Sunday would make her just the third horse to sweep both of Keeneland's graded 1 1/2-mile events for fillies and mares.
Let'sbefrankbaby ships in from Australia under the ownership of Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse. The 5-year-old Frankel mare was victorious in her lone start at 1 1/2 miles.
Entries: Rood & Riddle Dowager S. (G3T)
Keeneland, Sunday, October 20, 2024, Race 8
- Grade IIIT
- 1 1/2m
- Turf
- $300,000
- 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 4:44 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Three Priests (JPN) | John R. Velazquez | 122 | H. Graham Motion | 8/1 |
| 2 | 2Cozee Rags (KY) | Rafael Bejarano | 118 | Brian D. Michael | 50/1 |
| 3 | 3Anatolian (KY) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 122 | Michael J. Maker | 20/1 |
| 4 | 4Forever After All (KY) | Adam Beschizza | 122 | Brendan P. Walsh | 20/1 |
| 5 | 5Duvet Day (IRE) | Luis Saez | 122 | Michael W. McCarthy | 20/1 |
| 6 | 6Surprisingly (KY) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 122 | Todd A. Pletcher | 6/1 |
| 7 | 7Chop Chop (KY) | Luan Machado | 124 | Brad H. Cox | 5/1 |
| 8 | 8Mrs. Astor (KY) | Vincent Cheminaud | 122 | Jonathan Thomas | 30/1 |
| 9 | 9Eternal Hope (IRE) | Lanfranco Dettori | 122 | Charles Appleby | 4/1 |
| 10 | 10Let'sbefrankbaby (AUS) | Jose L. Ortiz | 122 | Mark E. Casse | 8/1 |
| 11 | 11Atomic Blonde (GER) | Tyler Gaffalione | 122 | Christophe Clement | 10/1 |
| 12 | 12Neecie Marie (PA) | Joel Rosario | 124 | Robert E. Reid, Jr. | 3/1 |
| 13 | 13Embrace Me (KY) | Jaime A. Torres | 122 | Lance Rutledge | 30/1 |
| 14 | 14Heart Spin (KY) | Edgar Morales | 122 | Anna Navarrete | 30/1 |
