NEWS
Marcavelly scores first graded stakes win in Transylvania Stakes
Posted: Friday, April 06, 2007 7:14 PM
by Jeff Lowe
Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott joked that he had received a Christmas present on Friday afternoon when Marcavelly notched his first graded stakes win in the $150,000 Central Bank Transylvania Stakes (G3).
Snow fell on an unseasonably cold opening day at Keeneland Race Course while the Johannesburg colt pulled away in the stretch for a 3 1/2-length victory under jockey Edgar Prado in his three-year-old debut.
Marcavelly won the Continental Mile Stakes at Monmouth Park in August in his second career start. He also finished second to Dreaming of Anna in the Summer Stakes (Can-G3) at Woodbine and second to Twilight Meteor in the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes on the Polytrack at Keeneland.
“It’s good to be cold when you’re happy,” said Sobhy Sonbol, racing manager for owner Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stables. “As we call him, ‘King’ Mott prepared him great for this race. We’ve loved this horse from day one, and Bill always liked him. He showed his talent as a two-year-old. Bill decided to give him the winter off, and he came today and rewarded us.”
Marcavelly covered one mile in 1:36.98 over firm turf.
Sonbol said Marcavelly would target the Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (G3) on May 4 at Churchill Downs and possibly the Colonial Downs series that includes the Colonial Turf Cup Stakes (G3) and Virginia Derby (G2).
In Jest closed from last in the field of nine to finish second. Cobrador finished another two lengths back in third.
Sedgefield, the Lane’s End Stakes (G2) runner-up, faded to finish fourth as the 7-to-5 favorite after contesting the early pace. His connections had been hoping to use the Transylvania as a springboard to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Bred in Kentucky by Harrison Stables Inc., Marcavelly is out of the Majestic Light mare Dark Jewel.
Zayat purchased the colt privately after he failed to meet his reserve on a final bid of $340,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Calder selected sale of two-year-olds in training.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
