Amaranth ships north to take Asparagus

Multiple stakes winner Amaranth, who had been meeting better down south, saw everything go her way in an easy 3 1/2-length victory in the $53,650 Asparagus Stakes on Saturday at the San Joaquin Fair in Stockton.

Winning trainer O.J. Jauregui saw everything go like clockwork for the 4-year-old Amaranth ($4), a daughter of Mr. Greeley who immediately took the lead out of the gate under Catalino Martinez and was never seriously challenged in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares.

“I was concerned after running her two weeks ago, but Catalino did a good job. She set easy fractions and finished strong. She did it very easily,” said Jauregui.

Amaranth, who won her fourth stakes, was 2 1/2 lengths up on City by the Bay after the opening quarter-mile. She was given a breather on the turn as City by the Bay crept to within a length of her as the field began to bunch up.

Amaranth quickly opened up again in the lane as Mystery Strike, winner of her first two starts, outraced the rest of the field for second while losing ground to the winner. Sweet Boss was third another one-half length back as City by the Bay faded to fourth.

Amaranth, a $150,000 2-year-old purchase at Ocala for Highland Yard LLC, earned $31,850 to increase her career earnings to $274,596 with her sixth victory in 15 starts.

“She’s a nice filly,” said Jauregui. “She’s run against some of the best in California. She’ll definitely get 1 1/2 to two months off now.”