Marissa’s Lady Excels in $200,000 Fern Creek S.

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Coady Photo

By Molly Rollins
BloodHorse.com
Louisville, KY (November 27, 2021)-In the final race of the day under the Twin Spires, the William Morey-trained Marissa’s Lady aced her stakes debut and improved to 2-for-2 in the $193,500 Fern Creek Stakes.

A homebred for Boone Family Trust and Tilemma Family Trust, Marissa’s Lady entered the Fern Creek as the least experienced member of the seven-horse field. In her only other start, the Violence filly had surged late to just win the photo in her maiden victory Oct. 31 over the Churchill oval.

Ridden back by Rafael Bejarano, Marissa’s Lady broke sharp but allowed Verylittlecents to skirt away to a brief lead following a quarter-mile in :22.18. Marissa’s Lady soon engaged Verylittlecents as they ticked past a half-mile in :45.63 and around the turn Marissa’s Lady forged clear of her opponent. Recent Myrtlewood Stakes winner Sweet Dani Girl made a menacing 3-wide bid around the turn, but Marissa’s Lady repelled that filly down the lane and held on by a length over favored Matareya .

Godolphin’s Matareya, a debut winner at Ellis Park over the summer who was fifth in the Oct. 8 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1), finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Sweet Dani Girl.

Marissa’s Lady was timed in 1:16.85 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. Off as the third choice, she paid $8 for a $2 win bet. She upped her earnings to $190,600 after the Fern Creek.

Morey was feeling optimistic about the filly’s future following the race.

“Every horse we seemed to put her with training in the morning she’d beat in her works,” said Morey. “We knew we had a nice filly but she kept getting better and better every work. We’ll enjoy this win and figure things out in the future. I think she may be able to stretch out in the future but we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Marissa’s Lady is out of the winning Cee’s Tizzy mare Marissa’s Joy, making her a half sister to millionaire and 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) runner-up Richard’s Boy(Idiot Proof).

Marissa’s Lady was foaled and raised at Columbiana Farm for her breeders and owners Harold Tillema & Pamela Tillema & Ron Boone Family Trust.