New Zealand bred mare Black Mamba bowed out of racing with a Listed victory in the Dowager Stakes (2400m) at Keeneland on Sunday.  The Black Minnaloushe mare is catalogued as Lot 56 for the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in Lexington.

“She’s a quality filly,’ winning jockey Robby Albarado said after guiding her to a 1.5 length victory.  “I kicked turning for home and she spread them out.”

Black Mamba has been an ever-present in stakes races on turf in Southern California since 2007.  She scored a signature victory in the 2008 John C. Mabee Hcp (G1) and has also landed the past two runnings of the Beverly Hills Hcp.  The John Sadler trained filly was also placed on three occasions in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita.

Bred in New Zealand by Keltern Stud, Black Mamba is out of the G3 winner Sneetch (Grosvenor) and is a half-sister to Flemington winner Gussy Godiva (Last Tycoon) who could boost the family’s pedigree next Tuesday.  She is the dam of Melbourne Cup fancy Roman Emperor (Montjeu).

Black Mamba retires with a 34: 7-7-4 career card and $988,840 in earnings for Doubledown Stables.  Her dam Sneetch has a 2yo colt by Coolmore sire Oratorio.