Mambo’s Dominate Maybe Johnny

A select field of five entered California’s feature race this week, the Grade One Maybe Johnny Handicap.  Run at mile and one eighth over a firm turf course for a purse of $400,000, the race is dominated by the blood of Kingmambo, with four of the five entrants tracing to that major sire.  The favorite is the odd mare out – All Week Bender is a daughter of Dynaformer who won her first graded stakes two starts back in the Grade Three Mezzanotte at a mile and one quarter.  She does have stakes wins at shorter distances but ships from across the pond for this start.  Second choice Eastern Shore Lass also scored her only graded victory at a mile and one quarter when she won the Grade Two Queen Liz Commemorative last fall.  This millionairess is a daughter of Montjeu x Kingmambo x Nureyev.  She only has three starts on the year but is searching for her first victory.

Confound is the third choice and Mambo De Calle the fourth and both are daughters of Kingmambo.  Confound is a five year old with eight victories to her credit including two listed victories at one mile.  Two starts back she finished a strong third in the Grade Three Board Game Distaff at one mile, her best graded finish to date.  Mambo De Calle is a six year old and the second millionaire in the field.  She has two grade one victories in her career, with both big race victories coming at one mile.  This year her form has slid just a bit but she does have two allowance race wins to her credit.

Rounding out the field is On Another Level, a four year old daughter of Kingmamo’s son Henrythenavigator.  On Another Level won her first stakes race three starts back going a mile and one sixteenth in the Dance for the King Turf Mare Route.  She ran a career best 110 speed that day but has disappointed in her subsequent two starts, running off the board in two graded attempts.

Good luck to all!