Seven weeks after being sold at auction, multiple graded stakes winner La Mehana will compete for her new owner, Dixiana Farms, as the defending champion in Wednesday’s $125,000 Via Borghese at Gulfstream Park. The 10th edition of the Via Borghese, a 1 3/8 miles turf race for mares, is the highlight of a special nine-race Christmas Eve card starting at 12:20 p.m. ET.
Purchased for $500,000 at Keeneland’s November breeding stock sale and now trained by Brad Cox, La Mehana aims to become only the second horse to win the Via Borghese twice, joining Always Shopping who won in 2020 and 2021. La Mehana joined the North American racing scene last spring under the LSU stable and trainer Christophe Clement and his son Miguel, bringing with her a record of four wins in 14 starts in France and earnings of $508,850.
The 6-year-old Al Uqair filly last raced on turf at Aqueduct’s Waya (G3) in October, finishing fifth over 1 3/8 miles. After being sold in November, she was moved to trainer Cox’s barn in South Florida. Cox expressed confidence in her readiness, noting she is fit and prepared to tackle the race distance.
La Mehana has been training well, clocking four work sessions at Cox’s Payson Park base since Thanksgiving, including a recent half-mile in 50.40 seconds. She has never run on dirt but boasts nine wins, six seconds, and six thirds in 25 turf starts, with graded stakes victories at the Waya in 2024 and the 1 1/2-mile Glens Falls (G2) last July.
Cox acknowledged that despite being primarily a turf marathon runner, La Mehana has shown surprising aptitude on dirt workouts, which is encouraging for her preparation. She is the second betting choice at 5-2 and will be ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz Jr. in the No. 6 post in an eight-horse field. La Mehana shares the stable with Fion, a Grade 1 winner and millionaire 3-year-old filly bred by Dixiana Farms, creating a strong presence in marathon races for mares.
The favorite at 2-1 is Alling Angel, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado from post four. The British-bred horse recently won the 1 3/8-mile Long Island (G3) and aims for his first Via Borghese victory. Newstead Stable’s No-Show Sammy Joe, who finished second in this race the past two years, will start from post five with jockey Jorge Luis. Trainer Graham Motion believes the mare thrives at the 1 3/8-mile distance and is pleased with her progress since arriving in Florida.
Other contenders include Miller Racing’s Venencia, who won the Dowager (G3) at Keeneland last fall and brings experience in graded stakes, and several others like Louise Proctor, Madam Mischief, Gallant Greta, and longshot Celestial Express.
The Via Borghese memorializes the daughter of Seattle Dancer, a successful mare who won major stakes races including the Suwannee River (G3) and Diana (G2) in 1994.
Fan Take: This race showcases the depth and talent in the marathon turf division for mares, highlighting horses like La Mehana who bring international experience to U.S. tracks. Fans should watch closely, as repeat winners like her elevate competition levels and enrich the sport’s narrative around turf specialists and stamina testing events.
