John C. Mabee

Marsha Naify and Woodside Farms' AMORAMA (Fr) (Sri Pekan) had gone winless since

taking last year's Del Mar Oaks (G1) over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, but all

the Julio Canani-trained filly needed was a return to the seaside track to find

her best form, closing determinedly to catch Island Fashion (Petionville) in

deep stretch for a head victory in Saturday's $400,000

John C. Mabee H. (G1).

The four-year-old, who was dismissed at almost 8-1, returned $17.60, $8.80 and

$4.20 after completing nine furlongs over the firm grass in 1:48.

Ridden by Martin Pedroza, Amorama was content to stalk in midpack as

Smokegetenyoureyes (Smokester) set fractions of :25 1/5, :49 2/5 and 1:13 while

being closely tracked by Island Fashion, who advanced to take a narrow advantage

through eight furlongs in 1:36 2/5. Amorama was in full flight on the outside at

this point, and 6-5 favorite Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill), who was in tight

while pinned down on the inside throughout the opening stages of the race, found

herself trapped in a pocket behind the leaders in midstretch and was steadied

repeatedly.

Island Fashion, who survived a stewards' inquiry and jockey's objection,

raced gamely to the wire and paid $9.40 and $4.40 at 8-1 odds. Intercontinental

got up for third, another 1 1/4 lengths back and a head better than 46-1

Smokegetenyoureyes, and gave back $2.80. The $1 exotics totaled $68.50 (exacta),

$267.20 (trifecta) and $4,228.10 for the 2-7-1-4 superfecta. Completing the

order of finish was Halo Ola (Arg) (Southern Halo), Winendynme (Dynaformer),

Uraib (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) and Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]).

Bred in France by Jean Etienne Dubois, Amorama began her racing career in

Europe and came to America near the end of her two-year-old season. She's placed

in the Gamely Breeders' Cup H. (G1), Wilshire H. (G3) and Senorita S. (G3), but

her only stakes wins have come at Del Mar. The dark bay now owns a 18-4-1-5 mark

with $600,261 in earnings. Amorama is out of the winning Alzao mare Tanzania

(Ire).