Marley's Freedom blasts home in Desert Stormer Stakes
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Photo:
Zoe Metz Photography
With a wild-eyed speed duel setting the table, Marley’s Freedom blew past morning line favorite Miss Sunset turning for home en route to a scintillating 7 ¼ length score in Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes under Drayden Van Dyke. Trained for the first time by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Blame got six furlongs in 1:09.31.
Fresh off victory in one of her best-ever performances, a 2 ¼ length six furlong allowance win with Van Dyke up when trained by Bob Hess, Jr. on April 20, Marley’s Freedom, who was 7-5 when she loaded into the gate, ended up the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.80, $2.10 and $2.10.
“I was smiling when I saw those three gun outta there,” said Van Dyke, in reference to Miss Sunset, Cuyathy and Yuvetsi. “It felt like I had a ton of horse all the way around there. This was her best race by far today.”
Owned by Cicero Farms, LLC, Marley’s Freedom, who is out of the Formal Gold mare Relaxing Green, was a big second two starts back behind highly regarded Selcourt in the Grade II Santa Monica Stakes on March 24. Today, she registered her first-ever stakes win in the Desert Stormer and with the winner’s share of $60,000, she now has earnings of $233,435 and her overall mark now stands at 10-4-2-0.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Miss Sunset shook loose of Cuyathy midway around the far turn, but was immediately engaged by the winner a quarter mile and proved second-best by 4 ¾ lengths.
Off as the second choice at even money, Miss Sunset paid $2.10 and $2.10.
Yuvetsi, who was head and head for the lead between horses, eased out of the suicidal duel and was easily third, finishing 3 ¼ lengths in front of Classy Tune.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Yuvetsi was off at 16-1 and paid $2.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 21.70, 44.96 and 56.90.
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