Assateague dominates Dr. James Penny Memorial

Assateague ran her seven rivals silly in the Grade 3, $200,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx Racing on Tuesday, setting even fractions throughout and pulling away in the stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

Assateague, under Joel Rosario, went right to the lead in the 1 1/16-mile turf race and was able to dictate her own pace while under only mild pressure from Nellie Cashman. Following splits of 23.66 seconds, 47.67, and 1:11.10, she opened up on the field, getting a mile in 1:34.69 and completing the course in 1:40.74.

Game Fair, who was disregarded at 39-1 despite having had trouble at the start of her last race, saved ground to the stretch, split horses, and was up late to take second by a neck over Alaura Michele, who had tracked the winner throughout but could not keep pace when it counted. Nellie Cashman flattened out to finish fourth.

Assateague paid $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second choice. Effie Trinket, the 2-1 favorite, finished sixth.

The Penny was the fifth win from 18 starts for Assateague, who is owned by her breeders, Helen C. Alexander, Helen K. Groves, and Dorothy Matz. The 5-year-old daughter of Stormy Atlantic is trained by Michael Matz. The Penny was Assateague’s first graded win and her second stakes victory overall. She has earned $398,000.