Ascendancy makes big closing move to take She's a Tiger Stakes

Ascendancy closed from last on the first turn to win her first stakes, and third consecutive race, in Saturday’s $76,350 She’s a Tiger Stakes for fillies and mares at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif.

Ridden confidently by jockey Alexander Chavez, Ascendancy ($6.60) closed steadily around the turn to take the lead in early stretch before pulling clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.78.

Ascendancy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

Twilight Empire (29-1) closed well through the stretch to finish a surprising second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of 3-1 Anthonys Cleopatra, who was part of the early pace.

Ascendancy and Twilight Empire were at the back of the field on the first turn. Twilight Empire raced wide on the backstretch and closed steadily on the turn, but was unable to keep pace with Ascendancy in the final furlong.

Anthonys Cleopatra dueled with 6-1 Tam’s Little Angel through the first half-mile and led on the turn before Ascendancy moved alongside on the outside to take command.

Clockstrikestwelve finished fourth, followed by Buyback, Smoothlikebuttah, Tam’s Little Angel, and Naughty Nadine. Tam’s Little Angel won the 2022 She’s a Tiger Stakes.

Ascendancy, a 4-year-old filly by Classic Empire, races for trainer O.J. Jauregui, Dan Barrett, David Crossley, David Foran, Daniel Preiss, Angel Valadez, and Graham Witherall.

Ascendancy has won 6 of 17 starts and earned $169,400. The current winning streak includes two springtime races at Golden Gate Fields in the spring- an allowance race on turf on May 20 and an allowance race on the synthetic main track on June 2.

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