Mabee Showdown First Step to Larger Dance

For these dissatisfied with the outcomes of the current million-dollar Pacific Traditional Stakes (G1), during which a horse with a 1-for-13 report beat a South American import of no specific be aware, take coronary heart. The John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) Sept. 7 guarantees to rain fireplace down upon 1 1/8-miles’ price of the Del Mar turf course.

At the least Mixto  and Full Serrano  placed on a superb present within the Traditional with a slam-bang end that marked a career-crowning expertise for profitable rider Kyle Frey, a former Eclipse Award apprentice. In the event that they repeat that type within the California Crown (G1) later this month at Santa Anita Park, we would have a complete new ballgame out West.

Till then, the rematch between Didia  and Anisette  within the Mabee must be sufficient to fulfill probably the most discerning critic, particularly as a result of they’re each aiming towards the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), to be run at Del Mar Nov. 2. Merriebelle Stables and Resolute Racing personal Didia, a winner this yr of the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) and the New York Stakes (G1T), whereas Anisette has received the Gamely Stakes (G1T) and the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) for Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions.

“She’s a yr older and extra mature,” stated Powell, alluding to Anisette. “Hopefully that suggestions the dimensions somewhat bit in our favor.”

Powell was at his desk in his steady workplace at Del Mar, whereas Correas was talking from Kentucky, the place his steady is predicated at Keeneland. Twenty years in the past this summer season, you’d have discovered them each at Del Mar working for the courtly Invoice Currin, California’s personal renaissance horseman and fount of infinite tales from his days as a breeder, proprietor, coach, and builder of hundreds of properties throughout the nation.

“I had began to coach one or two horses in my very own title,” Powell stated. “Invoice knew I might be getting extra horses and knew he would want a full-time assistant quickly. Ignacio was working in Kentucky and got here extremely beneficial.”

Coronary heart hassle compelled Currin to step away from coaching in early 2010, at which level Powell had a steady approaching 100 begins a yr and Correas had gone again east to coach for Sagamore Farm. The truth that the 2 of them are actually dealing with the 2 finest turf females within the nation not skilled by Chad Brown is a type of completely satisfied coincidences that makes racing eternally entertaining.

“Sure, we’re rivals,” stated a smiling Powell. “Pleasant rivals.”

Powell, a local of France, comes from a household wedded firmly to the racing world. He has two brothers within the enterprise, plus stepbrother Arnaud Delacour, a coach primarily based within the East. Powell’s father, the late David Powell, was an proprietor, a breeder, a journalist, and a racing supervisor for a number one steeplechase steady who as soon as hosted this sojourning reporter at his Normandy farm. On the time, Leonard Powell had simply turned 1. Attention-grabbing as I am certain I used to be, he doesn’t recall the encounter.

Each trainers hint their heritage to Argentina, the place David Powell was born of an American father who labored in the US diplomatic corps. The Correas title in Argentine breeding and racing goes again to the nineteenth century. His father, Ignacio Correas III, received a whole lot of main races, however the one which stands out from this angle is the 1989 Del Mar Invitational Handicap (G2T) with the Argentine Payant, skilled by Charlie Whittingham.

Each Powell and Correas are merchandise of schooling methods that presumably included arithmetic, which prompts the query: Why are their steady stars operating this weekend for $250,000 once they might have run Aug. 31 within the Kentucky Downs Girls Turf Stakes (G3T) for a pot of $900,000 (as non-Kentucky-breds) or Sept. 14 within the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine for $750,000?

“We thought in regards to the E.P. Taylor,” Powell stated. “The date is an ideal six weeks after her final race and 6 weeks earlier than the Breeders’ Cup. However since we misplaced Tex Sutton to ship horses, attending to Canada is an actual drawback—FedEx to Indianapolis, drive to Kentucky, then van to Canada. It is a two-day ordeal.”

As for Didia, Kentucky Downs by no means was within the playing cards.

“You do not run a horse going for the Breeders’ Cup at Kentucky Downs,” Correas stated. “At the least I do not try this. There are horses that adore it there and horses that do not. You can not afford to have a query mark 60 days earlier than the massive race.

“I do know in comparison with what we have now at Kentucky Downs, the $250,000 is like an allowance race,” Correas added. “However I feel it’s good for her go across the monitor on the market as soon as for the expertise.”

Correas shall be at Kentucky Downs this weekend, the place he has 5 horses operating for purses that put the remainder of the sport to disgrace. Assistant coach Hiram Rosario accompanied Didia to California for the Mabee.

“We aren’t an enormous operation, however we ship everywhere in the nation,” Correas stated. “That is why we make some noise.”

It might get loud in that last furlong of the Mabee, a race named for the longtime chairman of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Membership board of administrators. Analysts give Didia the sting on pace figures, however Anisette is ideal at Del Mar, going 3-for-3 in graded stakes appearances. It’s possible neither will run once more earlier than their subsequent reunion within the Breeders’ Cup.

“Didia is probably the most severe contender Anisette shall be dealing with to this point this yr,” Powell stated. “Working effectively towards her will make our ambitions extra official.”