Asscher looks sharp in taking Los Alamitos Oaks

CYPRESS, Calif. - Reluctant to load, Asscher more than made up for her brief pre-race shenanigans by running the best race of her career to win Saturday’s $404,000 Los Alamitos Oaks for 3-year-old Quarter Horse fillies.

Sent off favored, Asscher ($4.20) led throughout, leading by a length midway through the 400 yards and by 1 1/4 lengths at the finish. Asscher was timed in 19.45 seconds, benefiting from a 15-mile-per-hour tailwind.

Southern Divine (4-1) finished second, a neck in front of 3-1 Double Down 123 in a formful race.

Asscher, ridden by Christian Ramos, won for the fourth time in her eighth start for owners Lance Bland and Jimmy Barton of Texas and trainer Marc Jungers. Purchased for $350,000 as a yearling in New Mexico, Asscher has earned $223,530.

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The Los Alamitos Oaks, the track’s leading race for 3-year-old fillies, was Asscher’s third consecutive win, the longest such streak of her career. She won the minor Holiday Handicap at 350 yards on Dec. 30 and a division of the Los Alamitos Oaks trials on March 3 in 19.87 seconds, setting the fastest qualifying time.

Jungers and the owners said Asscher will be sent to Ruidoso Downs for the track’s spring-summer meeting, which begins in late May.

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