Austere impresses with Juvenile Fillies triumph
?q=100)
FRANKLIN, Ky. - Austere made it 2 for 2 to start her career scoring a sharp three-length victory in the $487,500 Juvenile Fillies Stakes on Sunday at Kentucky Downs.
Austere had won an Aug. 13 maiden turf route race at Ellis Park by one length with a modest 49 Beyer Speed Figure, but she finished fast in the race and looked like a better filly than the number. The Kentucky Downs morning line had her at an unreasonable 15-1, considering she came from hot connections, trainer Brendan Walsh and jockey Tyler Gaffalione, but the fact Austere paid just $10.04 beating seven rivals meant she was a horse that insiders liked.
“Shes’s pretty nice, very talented, and she’s done nothing since we’ve had her but impress us,” Walsh said.
One had to be impressed by Austere on Sunday. In her debut, she’d lost momentum after taking a good position into the far turn before coming back on at the three-furlong pole. This time, Austere broke alertly and traveled strongly from the start.
“I took her away from the pony and she warmed up great, stood perfect in the gate, and got a great start,” said Gaffalione, who rode three winners on Sunday.
Cynane, the 2-1 favorite, broke sharply and briefly had the lead, but Bella Haze crossed over to take command into the first turn, Cynane sitting second on the outside, Gaffalione gluing himself to the rail, where he’d found a little strip of ground during the card that he thought was good footing.
The pace was fast for a mile, 22.51 and 45.88, and took its toll on Cynane, who faded to sixth, but Austere traveled like a winner all the way around the turn and into the stretch. Gaffalione steered outside the two leaders turning for home, gave Austere some encouragement, and the filly leaned into the end of the bend and pushed forward. She had the lead at the eighth pole and widened to the line despite still racing a little greenly, changing back to her wrong lead at the sixteenth pole and shying a bit from the crop.
Her winning time dazzled compared to the Kentucky Juvenile Mile for 2-year-olds one race earlier. The colt Aspenite clocked 1:38.17 winning clear in that race, while Austere ran 1:35.48.
“Most definitely,” Gaffalione said, asked if Austere seemed like a horse who could step up a level. “She’s very lightly raced, young, still learning.”
Bella Haze, the first career winner for trainer Carlos Santamaria when she captured a six-furlong dirt maiden last month at Ellis, stayed on well to hold second, another good turf performance from a member of sire Flameaway’s first crop. Latte Lizzie, making her second start while still a maiden, followed Austere around the turn but couldn’t finish with her, losing a photo for second.
Austere races for Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gary Finder, Tucci Stables, Cambron Equine, and Belmar Racing. Bred by Summer Wind Equine, she’s a daughter of Mendelssohn and Argumentative, by Observatory. Walsh said it was reasonable to start thinking about the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and while there’s no set plan for Austere, the Jessamine Stakes next month at Keeneland could come under consideration.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.