Asternia grabs first stakes victory in Purple Martin
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Asternia became a stakes winner Saturday, when she powered home by 5 1/4 lengths over stablemate Blue Squall in the $200,000 Purple Martin over six furlongs at Oaklawn Park.
Randy Morse trains both fillies. Earlier on the card, he sent out Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan winner Taxed ($7.20) to a successful 4-year-old debut, which she won by 3 1/2 lengths.
Asternia ($9) tracked leader Brooklynn Drew through an opening quarter in 22.06 seconds and a half-mile in 45.68 before taking over. She increased her advantage with each passing stride through the stretch and covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.51.
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“She broke a step slow today,” jockey Emmanuel Esquivel told Oaklawn publicity. “As soon as she got into the race, she relaxed. When I asked her, she went on.”
Asternia is a daughter of Astern who races for Morse and partners Randy Patterson and Sam Vogel. Patterson and Vogel also own Blue Squall, in partnership with Joe Morgan. Asternia has now won 2 of 7 starts for earnings of $269,985.
The Purple Martin was for 3-year-old fillies. Xtreme Smoke Show finished third, a half-length behind Blue Squall.
Asternia came into the race off a runner-up finish in a first-level allowance on Feb. 2 won by next-out stakes winner Xtreme Diva.
Hall of Fame members Nick Zito and Ramon Dominguez were part of the winner’s circle presentation after their accomplishments were featured in a video presentation ahead of the race. Oaklawn honored each of the 20-plus Hall of Fame members ontrack Saturday for a weekend of festivities throughout the races.
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