Astronomer pulls 30-1 shocker in Qatar Golden Mile
DEL MAR, Calif. - Astronomer rode the rail the entire way under Ryan Moore and outfinished Optimising by a half-length to pull off a 30-1 upset in Friday’s $150,000 Qatar Golden Mile for 2-year-olds on turf at Del Mar.
Optimising won a three-way photo for second by a nose over Degree of Risk, who was a nose better than Boise. Nobals was fifth, followed by Birth of Cool, 6-5 favorite Ready to Purrform, Detroit City and Thirty Four Coupe. Aquitania Arrival was scratched
Astronomer was coming off a front-running win at 8-5 at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Simon Callaghan. Callaghan said that when he saw how much speed was in the Qatar Golden Mile, he told Moore: “I think you’re going to be fourth or fifth and he was pretty much box-seat third the whole way, traveled well. Ryan gave him a great ride. The seam came up the inside and it worked out great.”
Moore said sitting behind horses Friday was “no problem” for Astronomer, who covered the mile in 1:35.37 and returned $62.60 for a $2 win wager. He was the longest price on the toteboard.
Astronomer, a son of Air Force Blue owned by Alice Bamford and Michael Tabor, had finished fifth on turf in his debut in July at Del Mar. He finished last behind Oviatt Class on dirt in August before returning to turf and winning a maiden special at Golden Gate on Oct. 2.
“I think I made a mistake the time before running him on the dirt,” Callaghan said. “He hated that. We got back on the turf and that was kind of a breakout race against lesser company, and then he’s come and done this.”
Callaghan said Astronomer could be considered for the Grade 3, $100,000 Cecile B. DeMille Stakes here on Nov. 28.
Ready to Purrform, sent off the favorite after a dominant victory in the Laurel Futurity on Oct. 2, was last early, tried to make a wide move in the stretch under Joel Rosario, but made no impact and was beaten four lengths.
“I thought for a second he was going to keep coming,” Rosario said. “He just stayed one pace.”