Astute upsets stablemate Missy P. in Angels Flight Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Astute proved impossible to catch in Saturday’s $76,636 Angels Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, winning her first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos in December.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Astute ($7.80) was unchallenged through seven furlongs, leading by at least a length for much of the race. Astute pulled away from three rivals in the final furlong to win by 2 1/4 lengths, finishing in 1:22.94. Astute earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

“She warmed up pretty nice,” Hernandez said. “She broke really well.

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“At the quarter pole, I made her change leads, and when I asked her she responded well in the stretch.”

Astute is trained by Richard Mandella, who swept the exacta with Missy P., the 1-5 favorite. Missy P. had won a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs by 9 1/4 lengths on March 12 and had her second start on Saturday.

Missy P. stalked Astute throughout, but could not threaten the winner. Heels Up and Stella Noir completed the order of finish.

Astute, by Speightstown, has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $159,420. A $425,000 yearling purchase by owners Larry, Nancy and Jaime Roth, Astute won her first two starts – a maiden special weight race on turf at Santa Anita last October and the Dezi Arnaz Stakes at seven furlongs by 7 1/2 lengths at Del Mar last November.

In the Starlet Stakes, Astute was the 6-5 second choice and was well placed early in the race at 1 1/16 miles before fading from contention to finish 13 1/2 lengths behind race winner Varda.

Earlier this year, Astute’s 2021 debut was postponed by illness and a foot issue.