Marnesia Wild Heir Set to Splash Down in Starfish Bay

When Marnesia Wild Heir participates in the post parade for Sunday’s $75,000 Starfish Bay Stakes at Gulfstream Park, her diminutive stature may well dissuade some handicappers and fans from taking her seriously in the 1-1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

“She’s very, very small, there’s not much to her. Every day we try to make her bigger with food. But that’s going to be her,” trainer Donna Green said. “It amazes me how much ability she has for her size. They just don’t match.”

Despite her size, Marnesia Wild Heir has already proven that she can run with the big girls.

Two starts back on May 10, the daughter of Wildcat Heir closed from 11th and last in the $90,000 Honey Ryder Stakes at Gulfstream to finish second behind odds-on-favorite Daring Kathy. The Florida-bred filly came right back to capture a starter optional claiming race on May 31, again closing from far back.

“I guess that’s the way she’s going to run,” Green said.

Green and owner Daniel Hurtak claimed Marnesia Wild Heir out of her career debut at Gulfstream for $25,000 last August. Four starts later, she broke her maiden over a sloppy track before showing continuous improvement on turf and rounding into her sharp recent form.

“She’s been impressive. She’s come a long way since we claimed her. She was extremely green and really shy. Now she’s the total opposite,” Green said. “She really enjoys what she does.”

Marnesia Wild Heir is slated to clash again with Daring Kathy, who is undefeated in two turf starts and is rated at 7-5 in the Starfish Bay morning line. Second in the morning line at 3-1, Marnesia Wild Heir is scheduled to be ridden by Carlos Olivero, who was aboard for her recent victory.