Maryquitecontrary didn’t carry her excellent Gulfstream Park form out of state over the spring and summer, but could resume her winning ways on Saturday at the South Florida track in the $200,000 Princess Rooney (G3), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge prep for the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita next month.
Although a commendable second to reigning division champion Goodnight Olive in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland in April, Maryquitecontrary finished last in both the Honorable Miss H. (G2) and Ballerina H. (G1) at Saratoga in her two latest outings. The four-year-old daughter of First Dude has won six of seven at Gulfstream, including the track-and-distance Inside Information (G2) in late January.
“She’s been training great since she’s been here,” her new trainer, David Fawkes, said. “Her last work (four furlongs in a bullet :46 2/5 on Oct. 1) was really good.”
Olivia Darling has finished first or second in seven of her last eight starts, most recently winning an open allowance at Parx in late August. Last Leaf was stakes-placed three times in Kentucky earlier this earlier against the likes of Echo Zulu and Wicked Halo, while R Adios Jersey and Poiema both enter off large-margin wins over the Gulfstream strip.
Bluefield, a lightly-raced seven-year-old, has not been out since July 7, when she finished a distant second to Yuugiri in the Saylorville S. at Prairie Meadows. The lone three-year-old in the field is the stakes-winning Flakes, who finished second in the Azalea S. when last seen in late July.
The Princess Rooney, formerly held over the summer, will be run at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Filly and Mare Sprint.
