Ashleyluvssugar confirms talent with Whittingham win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ashleyluvssugar has had a career-defining spring.

On March 21, Ashleyluvssugar won the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in his graded stakes debut. On Sunday, the 4-year-old gelding confirmed that form by winning the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes over the same course and distance.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens was aboard for both wins and rode the heavily favored Ashleyluvssugar ($3) with confidence Sunday. Last of five with a quarter-mile remaining, Ashleyluvssugar closed with a wide rally to win by a half-length over Ganesh, a 5-1 shot.

Ashleyluvsugar has won three consecutive starts, a span that began in an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf Feb. 5.

With a small field, Stevens projected the Whittingham would be a tactical race, leading to a patient approach. Stevens kept Ashleyluvssugar well off a slow pace of 48.06 seconds for the first half-mile set by the French import Going Somewhere.

“It looked like it would be an ugly race,” Stevens said. “He went into a nice gallop when we hit the wire for the first time.”

Stevens kept Ashleyluvssugar at the back of the field and moved wide into contention on the turn, while Ganesh moved to the inside under jockey Flavien Prat.

“I knew Flav was behind me, and I thought he’d have the horse to beat,” Stevens said. “He was inside, and they all started sprinting. It was too early for me to move. I didn’t want to turn it into a three-eighths-mile sprint.”

With a three-wide rally, Ashleyluvssugar was second to Going Somewhere with a furlong to go and took the lead in the final sixteenth. Stevens said he did not urge Ashleyluvssugar in the final strides.

“That was me shutting him down,” he said.

Ashleyluvssugar was timed in 2:30.10 for 1 1/2 miles on a turf course that has produced slow times in recent weeks. Ganesh, finished a half-length in front of Going Somewhere, who was followed by Divine Oath and Crucero.

Ashleyluvssugar has won 6 of 11 starts and earned $455,504 for Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing. Ashleyluvssugar, a California-bred by Game Plan, was bred by his owners and is trained by Peter Eurton.