Ascendancy makes Luther Burbank second stakes triumph of year
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Ascendancy continued a busy summer campaign with her second stakes win of the year in Saturday’s $76,800 Luther Burbank Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif.
Ridden by Alexander Chavez, Ascendancy closed from fifth in a field of nine to win by a convincing 2 ¼ lengths over 8-5 favorite Ever Smart. Sent off as the second choice, Ascendancy ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.21 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85.
Madeira Wine (9-2) set an early pace of 22.96 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.12 for a half-mile. On the backstretch, Madeira Wine was closely tracked by Ever Smart, who took the lead with more than a quarter-mile remaining.
Ever Smart held an advantage of more than a length in early stretch before Ascendancy ($5.60) closed with a wide rally to take the lead in the stretch.
Ever Smart finished three-quarters of a length in front of 25-1 Assignation.
Undisturbed, Clockstrikestwelve, Madeira Wine, Councilwoman Jilly, Belleo’s Forest and Tam’s Little Angel completed the order of finish.
Councilwoman Jilly was hampered by a slow start.
Chancery Way, the winner of the Governor’s Cup Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs on dirt at Cal-Expo in Sacramento on July 22, was withdrawn by trainer Jamey Thomas in favor of a start at the Golden Gate Fields late summer meeting that begins later this month.
Ascendancy, a 4-year-old filly by Classic Empire, races for a partnership that includes trainer O.J. Jauregui. Ascendancy has won 7 of 19 starts and earned $214,490.
Ascendancy won the She’s a Tiger Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the main track at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., on June 24 before an eighth-place finish by three lengths in the restricted Osunitas Stakes on turf at Del Mar on July 22.
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