Stellify cruised to a 5 1/2-length victory at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6, defending her title in the $1.5 million Ladies Marathon Invitational Stakes (G3T) for her second consecutive win in the race.
In just her third start since winning last year's Ladies Marathon, the lightly-raced, 5-year-old daughter of Justify was sent to the lead under jockey Flavien Prat and took the field through opening fractions of :25.10 and :48.80.
"She felt very comfortable. She was traveling very well," said Prat, who won six races on the Sunday card, including both stakes races. Two races earlier, he took the One Dreamer Stakes with May Day Ready.
Turning for home, Stellify easily kicked away from her rivals to draw clear of the field under a hand ride from Prat. At the top of the lane, Godolphin's homebred Golden Sunshine unleashed a powerful rally under Jaime Torres, forging through heavy traffic. She found a seam between rivals in the final sixteenth and delivered a brave rally to finish a game second. Hey Jessie was a half-length back in third.
"I was in a good spot on the inside. I looked around to see if it was a good choice in the spot that I was to make a run from the outside, but the inside was wide open, so I took her there," Torres said. My filly responded well. The favorite was a big favorite; she was on the lead pretty easily. I think some (extra pace) would have helped us. I told the connections after the race that the longer the better for her."
Stellify finished the 1 5/16-mile race in a final time of 2:09.54. Sent off as the favorite, she paid $3.18 to win.
Trainer Brad Cox, who had a big day as his juvenile standout The Good Life dominated the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, said he was impressed with the mare's performance, especially considering it was just her second start following a nine-month layoff from the races.
"She's very steady and she likes to break and be close and there with that distance; it just suits her really well," Cox said. "She's a big, beautiful mare that just really gets into that big stride and rhythm and she can make that circuit around there that can be demanding. She stays on so well. I wish they'd run the Breeders' Cup there; (it's) what I wish for her sake."
Cox said the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Keeneland is under consideration. The mare finished seventh in last year's running, where she faced a big step up in class.
"I think we will look at the Breeders' Cup and see who shows up," Cox said. "That will be one thing we'll look at. We'll weigh our options and she'll have plenty of time before her next run. Excited about what she was able to get done today."
Stellify, who is campaigned by Elements Racing, George Messina, and Michael Lee, was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm. Stephen Smith, Mike Lee, and George Messina purchased Stellify as a yearling for $140,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
