Dubai Majesty Repeats in the Winning Colors at Churchill Downs

Jun 01, 2010 Darren Rogers

The Martin Racing Stable and Dan Morgan's Dubai Majesty swept past favored Hot Dixie Chick on the far turn and cruised to an authoritative 4 ½-length victory over Secret Gypsy in the seventh running of the $110,500 Winning Colors (Grade III) for fillies and mares on Monday at Churchill Downs.

Miguel Mena posted his third victory of the afternoon and his 200th career triumph at Churchill Downs with the score aboard Dubai Majesty, who covered the six furlongs on a fast main track in the stakes-record time of 1:08.07. The previous stakes mark was established by Miss Macy Sue with a 1:08.68 clocking in 2007.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, the 5-year-old Dubai Majesty became the first repeat winner of the Winning Colors. The victory was worth $66,455 and increased Dubai Majesty's earnings to $681,343 with a record of 29-9-6-5. Dubai Majesty is a Florida-bred daughter of Essence of Dubai out of the Great Above mare Great Majesty.

Hot Dixie Chick, ridden by Robby Albarado, set the pace with Dubai Majesty just to her outside through a first quarter of a mile in :21.80. Approaching the far turn, Mena moved Dubai Majesty after the leader and opened a clear lead of the head of the stretch after a half-mile in 44:54.

Hot Dixie Chick tried to battle back but yielded at the eighth pole as Secret Gypsy, ridden by Francisco Torres, raced past to secure second by a length. Hot Dixie Chick held third by a length over Double Espresso, who was followed in order by Emmy Darling, Minewander, J Z Warrior and Nadeshiko.

Dubai Majesty returned $6.80, $4.20 and $2.80. Secret Gypsy paid $16.60 and $6.20 with Hot Dixie Chick paying $2.40 to show.

Racing at Churchill Downs will resume Friday with an 11-race program that begins at 2:45 p.m. (EDT). There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $3,233 on races 6-11. The racetrack will be open for simulcast wagering on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. with free general admission. 

WINNING COLORS QUOTES
MIGUEL MENA (jockey, DUBAI MAJESTY, winner): 'She was galloping nice and comfortable. I could tell I had more horse. I tried to stay away from the favorite (Hot Dixie Chick) because I was 100 percent better. I just waited and when I asked her she exploded. I never hit her. She went pretty easy. The connections did a good job. The boss said, ‘Get it out of there because sometimes she breaks slow,' so I got her out of there. We got the best post position outside. We can either be on the lead or stalk. They said make her break good and see how it goes.' 

DENNIS 'PEACHES' GEIER (assistant trainer, BRET CALHOUN, DUBAI MAJESTY, winner): 'We don't know why she ran like she did in her last race (last in the Humana Distaff on Derby Day). She made up for if today. She ran great today. (Jockey) Miguel (Mena) had her stalking behind the five (Hot Dixie Chick) and when he asked her she made a great move. We knew she had this in her. We don't have a race yet picked out for her, but we will see how she comes back. We will look at either a grass race or dirt. We want to try her on grass at some point. She really ran great.'

FRANCISCO TORRES (jockey, SECRET GYPSY, second): 'I tell you what, (trainer) Ronny (Werner) and I talked about how this race would develop and its how we wanted her to run. But she is a speed-biased filly and the speed bias wasn't working.'
ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, HOT DIXIE CHICK, third): 'Great trip, good job, ran good. It wasn't easy on the lead. We went fast but the eventual winner was right next to me the whole way. Those were quality fillies here.'

Churchill Downs, the world's most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America's greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will host the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7, 2011 and the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 6, 2011. The track's 2010 Spring Meet continues through Sunday, July 4. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders' Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Churchill Downs tickets are available at Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com or by calling (502) 636-4400. Additional information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at ChurchillDowns.com.