For those dissatisfied with the results of the recent million-dollar Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), in which a horse with a 1-for-13 record beat a South American import of no particular note, take heart. The John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) Sept. 7 promises to rain fire down upon 1 1/8-miles' worth of the Del Mar turf course.
At least Mixto and Full Serrano put on a good show in the Classic with a slam-bang finish that marked a career-crowning experience for winning rider Kyle Frey, a former Eclipse Award apprentice. If they repeat that form in the California Crown (G1) later this month at Santa Anita Park, we might have a whole new ballgame out West.
Until then, the rematch between Didia and Anisette in the Mabee should be enough to satisfy the most discerning critic, especially because they are both aiming toward the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), to be run at Del Mar Nov. 2. Merriebelle Stables and Resolute Racing own Didia, a winner this year of the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) and the New York Stakes (G1T), while Anisette has won the Gamely Stakes (G1T) and the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
When last they met, the older Didia beat 3-year-old Anisette by 1 3/4 lengths in the 2023 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita, and both trainers—Ignacio Correas IV and Leonard Powell—think their mares have improved since then. So that's no help.
"She's easy, always the same," said Correas, describing Didia. "If anything, I think she got a little better this year."
"She's a year older and more mature," said Powell, alluding to Anisette. "Hopefully that tips the scale a little bit in our favor."
Powell was at his desk in his stable office at Del Mar, while Correas was speaking from Kentucky, where his stable is based at Keeneland. Twenty years ago this summer, you would have found them both at Del Mar working for the courtly Bill Currin, California's own renaissance horseman and fount of endless tales from his days as a breeder, owner, trainer, and builder of thousands of homes across the nation.
"I had started to train one or two horses in my own name," Powell said. "Bill knew I'd be getting more horses and knew he would need a full-time assistant soon. Ignacio was working in Kentucky and came highly recommended."
Heart trouble forced Currin to step away from training in early 2010, at which point Powell had a stable approaching a hundred starts a year and Correas had gone back east to train for Sagamore Farm. The fact that the two of them are now handling the two best turf females in the country not trained by Chad Brown is one of those happy coincidences that makes racing eternally entertaining.
"Yes, we're rivals," said a smiling Powell. "Friendly rivals."
Powell, a native of France, comes from a family wedded firmly to the racing world. He has two brothers in the business, plus stepbrother Arnaud Delacour, a trainer based in the East. Powell's father, the late David Powell, was an owner, a breeder, a journalist, and a racing manager for a leading steeplechase stable who once hosted this sojourning reporter at his Normandy farm. At the time, Leonard Powell had just turned 1. Interesting as I'm sure I was, he does not recall the encounter.
Both trainers trace their heritage to Argentina, where David Powell was born of an American father who worked in the United States diplomatic corps. The Correas name in Argentine breeding and racing goes back to the 19th century. His father, Ignacio Correas III, won a lot of major races, but the one that stands out from this angle is the 1989 Del Mar Invitational Handicap (G2T) with the Argentine Payant, trained by Charlie Whittingham.
Both Powell and Correas are products of education systems that presumably included mathematics, which prompts the question: Why are their stable stars running this weekend for $250,000 when they could have run Aug. 31 in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) for a pot of $900,000 (as non-Kentucky-breds) or Sept. 14 in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine for $750,000?
"We thought about the E.P. Taylor," Powell said. "The date is a perfect six weeks after her last race and six weeks before the Breeders' Cup. But since we lost Tex Sutton to ship horses, getting to Canada is a real problem—FedEx to Indianapolis, drive to Kentucky, then van to Canada. It's a two-day ordeal."
As for Didia, Kentucky Downs never was in the cards.
"You don't run a horse going for the Breeders' Cup at Kentucky Downs," Correas said. "At least I don't do that. There are horses that love it there and horses that don't. You cannot afford to have a question mark 60 days before the big race.
"I know compared to what we have at Kentucky Downs, the $250,000 is like an allowance race," Correas added. "But I think it is good for her go around the track out there once for the experience."
Correas will be at Kentucky Downs this weekend, where he has five horses running for purses that put the rest of the game to shame. Assistant trainer Hiram Rosario accompanied Didia to California for the Mabee.
"We are not a big operation, but we ship all over the country," Correas said. "That's why we make some noise."
It could get loud in that final furlong of the Mabee, a race named for the longtime chairman of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club board of directors. Analysts give Didia the edge on speed figures, but Anisette is perfect at Del Mar, going 3-for-3 in graded stakes appearances. It is likely neither will run again before their next reunion in the Breeders' Cup.
"Didia is the most serious contender Anisette will be facing so far this year," Powell said. "Running well against her will make our ambitions more legitimate."
