Matareya Romps in Beaumont Presented by Keeneland Select

Godolphin’s homebred Matareya put away the pacesetting Lady Scarlet at the top of the stretch and drew off to score an 8½-length victory in the 37^th running of the $400,000 Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select for 3-year-old fillies Sunday afternoon. 

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, Matareya completed the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet over a fast track in 1:27.55. It is the first victory in the Beaumont for Cox and Prat. 

It is the second stakes victory of the opening weekend of the 15-day Spring Meet for Cox and the third for Prat. 

Matareya grabbed the lead at the start, but Lady Scarlet pushed through on the inside to lead the field through fractions of :22.87 and :46.61. 

On the far turn, Matareya began to creep closer and drew on even terms at the top of the stretch at which point Prat took a quick peek over his right shoulder to see if any pursuers were coming. 

No pursuers were coming, and Matareya and Prat had an unpressured run to the wire. 

The victory was worth $241,800 and increased Matareya’s earnings to $374,267 with a record of 6-3-2-0. Matareya is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Pioneerof the Nile out of the Bernardini mare Innovative Idea. 

Matareya returned $4.20, $2.60 and $2.40. Radio Days, ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $3.40 and $3 and finished 1¾ lengths ahead of Reagan’s Decision, who paid $4.60 to show under Luis Saez. 

Lady Scarlet finished another three-quarters of a length back in fourth and was followed in order by Majestic d’Oro, Gina Romantica and Chi Town Lady. 

Slipstream surges past Twilight Gleaming (IRE) to win Palisades

Jump Sucker Stable’s Slipstream took the inside route to slip past favored Twilight Gleaming (IRE) inside the eighth pole and posted a three-quarters of a length victory in the third running of the $200,000 Palisades (L) for 3-year-olds. 

Trained by Christophe Clement and ridden by Joel Rosario, Slipstream covered the 5½ furlongs on a turf course rated as good in 1:02.80. Rosario also won last year’s running aboard Chasing Artie. 

Making her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Del Mar, Twilight Gleaming quickly opened a clear advantage and led the field of seven through fractions of :22.17 and :45.73 as Slipstream raced at the back of the field. 

At the head of the stretch, Twilight Gleaming drifted out toward the middle of the course while Slipstream found a seam between the rail and Pure Panic and surged through for a clear shot at the leader that proved to be the winning move. 

Winner of the Futurity (G3) last fall at Belmont Park and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), Slipstream is a Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Cake Baby. 

The victory was worth $120,900 to the Keeneland sales graduate and increased Slipstream’s earnings to $288,500 with a record of 6-3-0-1. 

Slipstream returned $7.40, $3 and $2.60. Twilight Gleaming returned $2.40 and $2.20 with Pure Panic finishing another 5½ lengths back in third and paying $5.40 to show under Adam Beschizza. 

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Circle Back Jack in fourth with No Nay Franklin (IRE), Classicstateofmind and Baytown Frosty following in order. 

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Racing resumes Wednesday with an eight-race program that begins at 1 p.m. ET.