I’m So Fancy Claims WinStar Matchmaker in Style

OCEANPORT, NJ –  A three-horse field and a slow early pace was the perfect combination for I’m So Fancy, the winner of Saturday’s $150,000 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park. This was the second consecutive win for the four-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Rajj in her third start since coming to the states.

I’m So Fancy shot straight to the front to be the sole leader in the early going. Touriga sat back on the fence and Competitionofideas was relaxed on her outside about a length back of the leader while I’m So Fancy was allowed to set a crawling pace of :27.23 and :52.19. Competition of Ideas put some pressure on into the final turn, but the slow early pace worked in the favor of I’m So Fancy who exploded away from the threat with plenty left in the tank and the finish line rapidly approaching. Competitionofideas dug in and made up some of the ground to contest the lead in the late going but ran out of space as I’m So Fancy continued on to win by a neck. Touriga finished more than a length back in third.

“She was really sharp today. I knew she was probably going to be lone speed. So when she broke out of there sharply I let her fall in,” said winning trainer Trevor McCarthy. “She broke two lengths in front. I let her settle. Those fractions were really the reason she won. She had plenty left to hold off the other two because of that.”

“Nobody really knew what to expect,” said trainer Arnaud Delacour. “It was a three-horse field. On paper it looked like they were all horses that liked to stalk or come from behind. She broke very well so Trevor McCarthy decided to make the lead and slow down the pace. That was the best way to go and why he won the race. She is a nice filly. She deserved to win a grade stakes in America. There’s a lot to look forward to with her.”

I’m So Fancy returned $5.80 to win. There was no place or show betting.