Asmussen and Contreras team up to take My Dear Stakes with Joy's Rocket

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It was trainer Steve Asmussen who brought jockey Luis Contreras to Woodbine over a decade ago, so it was only fitting that they combined to take Saturday’s $101,200 My Dear. Contreras rode the Asmussen-trained Joy’s Rocket to victory in the My Dear, the first 2-year-old stakes of the meet.

Joy’s Rocket broke alertly from the one-hole and was hounded by Rocket Reload through a fast early pace in the 5 1/2-furlong dash for fillies. Joy’s Rocket opened up a clear lead in the stretch en route to a comfortable 2 3/4-length victory in 1:05.10.

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Road to Romance, the slight 7-5 favorite, held off a closing Rotary for second. Emmeline finished fourth, and was followed by Rocket Reload, Queen Rhonda, and Silent Mamba.

Asmussen won the 2008 My Dear with Juliet’s Spirit and jockey Jim McAleney when he had a barn full of horses at Woodbine. Joy’s Rocket, a daughter of Anthony’s Cross, was coming off a gutsy debut score in the slop at Churchill, and had no previous synthetic track experience.

“She was very professional pretty much the whole way,” said Contreras. “I was very confident. I wasn’t too worried because horses like this with this kind of talent, I think it’s easy for them to adjust to every track.”

Joy’s Rocket ($5.50) earned $60,000 for Team Hanley.