Mean Mary Means Business in New York

ELMONT, NY – Trainer Graham Motion’s red-hot Mean Mary meant serious business as she took the field gate to wire in Saturday’s $250,000 New York Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.

Mean Mary exited the far outside post under Luis Saez as the 6/5 favorite and immediately took an easy lead heading into the clubhouse turn. With nobody applying pressure, she posted relaxed fractions of :25.11, :51.55, 1:16.28, and 1:39.21 through the opening mile.

Still running uncontested on the front end, Mean Mary strolled home to win by 5 1/4 effortless lengths in a final time of 2:01.85 for the 1 1/4-mile firm inner turf event.

“I had a lot of confidence in her today,” said Saez, who gave a winning ride for the fourth straight time. “She always does everything right. Today, she was just galloping. The track feels good today and I think the rain helped her. She was super relaxed, even more so than her last race. She feels better now than she did last time.”

My Sister Nat rallied from last to pass the rest of the field in the stretch and take second by a neck over Feel Glorious. Behind them came Call Me Love, Fools Gold, and Valiance to complete the order of finish.

The winner’s stablemate Mrs. Sippy was scratched.

Mean Mary’s win was her fourth straight and improved her near-perfect record to 7-5-1-0, with her lone off-the-board effort coming in her career debut at Laurel Park last September. The 4-year-old Scat Daddy filly has now eared $396,160 for owner/breeder Alex G. Campbell, Jr.

“The way she did it was pretty impressive,” Motion said after Mean Mary made a return from a three-month layoff. “I worried a little bit. You always worry a little bit with that much time away and I wanted to keep her fresh, but she also had to be fit. The course took a little bit of rain, but it’s so different than what she had been running on. I think she might be one of those horses where you don’t have to make too many excuses.”

Mean Mary returned $4.40 to win, $3 to place, and $2.70 to show. My Sister Nat brought back $5.40 to place and $4 to show, while Feel Glorious paid $7 to show.