By SFGate.com
ALBANY, Calif. (Mar. 15, 2014) — It’s always advantageous for a horse to possess natural speed, but sometimes you need some grit, too, which is how Marks Mine won the $59,400 Camilla Urso Stakes on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
Marks Mine, the even-money favorite, broke from the No. 5 post position under Frank Alvarado in the 6-furlong race for fillies and mares. Fellow front-runner Fast and Fury, ridden by Leslie Mawing, broke from the outside slot in the field of eight.
“I told Frank to back off if the eight goes, and he tried to do that, but the eight backed off, too, so he was stuck on the inside,” winning trainer Steve Specht said. “I was a little concerned that it would soften her up for someone else from behind, but she digs in and gives you what she’s got.”
Marks Mine disposed of Fast and Fury at the top of the stretch and spurted to a two-length lead, but just as Specht feared, Happybirthdaybaby and jockey Russell Baze began to close in.
They got no closer than the half-length margin of victory that gave Marks Mine her fifth straight win in a sprint on Golden Gate Fields’ main track.
“I could hear Russell coming, but I wasn’t worried because I know my filly always tries hard and I always save some horse for the final sixteenth,” Alvarado said. “My filly finished strong.”
Happybirthdaybaby’s loss ended her three-race win streak and, more importantly, Baze’s streak of seven straight stakes victories at GGF.
“That’s OK, the pressure got to me,” Baze said, smiling. “I was doing OK until somebody brought it (the streak) to my attention.”
There’s no shame in losing to Marks Mine, who finished in a good 1 minute, 9.89 seconds for her eighth win in 16 starts and her fourth stakes victory. She increased her earnings to $363,854 for owners-breeders Larry D. and Marianne Williams.
“She runs her ass off every time,” Specht said. “She’s a versatile filly; she can run on synthetic, turf and dirt. She’s a very enjoyable horse to have around the barn.”