Thank You Marylou Gets Dream Set-Up

Thank You Marylou took advantage of a dream set-up on her way to victory in today's $75,000 Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park.             

The chestnut filly had not raced since finishing second in the Adirondack Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on August 11, but settled into stride in third as heavily favored Sweet Whiskey dueled with Whomping Willow up front through an opening half-mile in :44.31. The battle took its toll on those fillies, and Thank You Marylou ($15.20) came rolling by on the outside to score by 2 1/2 lengths under jockey Julien Leparoux. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:21.51.            

"I had a perfect trip, sitting third on the outside in the clear," Leparoux said. "When I asked her to go, she just took off. She's a very nice filly. It was the first time I've been on her, so it was a good surprise."            

Whomping Willow was second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Sweet Whiskey in third.            

Purchased by Eclipse Award-winning owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey as a weanling for $47,000, Thank You Marylou was highly regarded enough to debut in the Tippett Stakes at Colonial Downs last July and came through as the 7-5 choice in that turf test. The Virginia-bred daughter of Birdstone crossed the line a troubled third in the Adirondack four weeks later, but was put up to second by the stewards that afternoon. Though sidelined afterwards, Thank You Marylou had been working smartly since rejoining trainer Mike Maker's string at Gulfstream.            

"She's been training really well since she came back," assistant trainer Evelio Chavez commented. "Mike has done a really good job with her. It's really unbelievable that she could run like that off the layoff. Sometimes horses need the race when they've been off for so long, but she proved that she's a runner. That's her style--she likes to be behind horse and then run."            

The Any Limit winner was named in honor of racing doyenne Marylou Whitney, who assisted the leading owners when Sarah Ramsey suffered a stroke in 2007. Whitney bred and owned Birdstone, hero of the Travers Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) in 2004. The Ramseys also had a big weekend with Major Marvel, who annexed the Barbados Gold Cup on Saturday. Major Marvel has won eight of his last nine starts, including the $125,000 Claiming Crown Emerald Stakes at Gulfstream in December.