Avenue de France rallies along rail for Miss America triumph
Avenue de France ($17.60) won her second straight stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday, rallying along the rail to win the $65,540 Miss America Stakes.
The 4-year-old French-bred Cityscape filly won the Luther Burbank on the turf in August in her only other appearance here. Sunday's Miss America was switched from the turf to Golden Gate's Tapeta main track because of rain.
“When they moved it off turf, I wasn't worried,” winning trainer Leonard Powell said. “I was sure she could handle it.”
Two other runners, Cordiality and Fairy Tail Blitz, scratched after the surface switch, and Northwest Factor had to be scratched after acting up in the gate.
Jockey Assael Espinoza, who had also riden her in the Luther Burbank, “followed instructions to a T” according to Powell, by sitting fourth behind a slow pace while saving ground down the backstretch as Sloane Garden cantered along through fractions of 25.27, 49.79 and 1:13.31.
He continued along the rail with his filly and had a clear path in the stretch.
Brooke, who had sat just off Sloane Garden, moved up outside the leader to take the lead in the lane but was unable to hold off Avenue de France's late charge, finishing one length behind the winner, who won the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:45.19. Sloane Garde was third another two lengths back.
“You could see she was loaded and ready to run on the turn,” Powell said of the winner.
Avenue de France earned $30,450 for her victory, her fifth win in 14 starts and third since being purchased by Benowitz Family Trust, Convergence Stable, Madaket Stables, and coming to America. Her career earnings are now $158,062.