Florida Focus

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Derby City Distaff at Churchill and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) won by Goodnight Olive most recently.

Sent off as the second choice at 5-2 in the Inside Information, Maryquitecontrary also won her second straight and third career stakes having won the $125,000 Rampart going a mile at Gulfstream on Dec. 31 and the $65,000 Sheer Drama against Florida-bred fillies and mares going seven furlongs at Gulfstream on Sept. 10.

With her regular rider Luca Panici aboard, Maryquitecontrary broke from post seven and was sandwiched a bit at the start when longshot Jag Warrior drifted out from post six. Panici and Maryquitecontrary appeared unfazed as they then dropped back to last early while Florida-bred R Adios Jersey and Fire On Time sprinted clear to lead the field through the first quarter-mile in :22.41. Fire On Time took a three-quarter-length advantage on R Adios Jersey around the far turn as Maryquitecontrary began to pass horses from far back.

After a half-mile in :45.38, Fire On Time continued with her same one-length margin on R Adios Jersey leaving the far turn but drew clear at the top of the stretch. R Adios Jersey chased in second on the rail from two lengths back as Maryquitecontrary was now third on far outside but still had more than three lengths to make up.

Fire On Time held on until they hit the sixteenth pole when Maryquitecontrary jetted to the lead and drew clear to win by two-and-a-half lengths in 1:23.46 on the fast track. Colorful Mischief was second, a length in front of Fire On Time in third. Florida-bred R Adios Jersey held on for fourth followed by Last Leaf, Obligatory, Famed, Jag Warrior, Diamond Wow and Miss Speedy.

“I was squeezed after the break. [Maryquitecontrary] was a little bit nervous and I lost a half-length after the break. But they were running in front and I was sitting confident like always with her,” Panici said. “When I got to the clear, she started to kick and she kicked until the end. She’s improving race after race and today she showed what she can do.”

Trainer Joseph Catanese III also noted that Maryquitecontary appears to be progressing with each race and doing so with enthusiasm.

“[Maryquitecontrary] keeps getting better and better. She’s a pleasure. We’ll keep finding races for her here,” Catanese said.

Maryquitecontrary paid $7.20 on a $2 win ticket.

Maryquitecontrary is by Double Diamond Farm’s First Dude out of Mary Kate ‘n Kelly, by Mecke and now has earnings of $338,580 from her seven starts. Mary Kate ‘n Kelly has four winners from five starters with Maryquitecontrary being her only black type earner. She was bred to Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie in 2022. n

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Havnameltdown appeared to have an easy time of winning the $196,000 San Vicente (Grade 2) at Santa Anita on Jan. 29 as the Florida-bred colt cruised to a length-and-a-half victory against three other sophomores going seven furlongs.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez for trainer Bob Baffert, Havnameltdown broke best of all from the inside post in the San Vicente and used the fast start to assume control of the short field. The pair never looked back as they led by a length ahead of Man Child in second while clicking off the first two furlongs in :22.46 on the fast track.

Havnameltdown extended his lead around the far turn as Faustin joined Man Child in second after a half-mile in :45.46 and began to pull clear as they turned into the stretch. Havnameltdown was three in front mid-way from home before Faustin made a mild run to get second. Fort Warren was another eight-and-three-quarters-lengths back in third while Man Child finished last.

“I felt out of the gate with the first jump, [Havnameltdown] broke really fast and strong then after that I felt like I was just cruising,” Hernandez said. “He was having fun out there. He was kind of waiting for horses. I was doing the same thing. I was just waiting for him and waiting for the competition to get close to me so I could start making my horse run. At the three-eighths, I felt the pressure a little bit and I asked him and he responded really well. Turning for home he switched leads and he picked it up by himself.”

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