Benedetta makes it four in a row with American Beauty victory

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Benedetta won her fourth consecutive race with the $150,000 American Beauty on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, and in the process lifted trainer Steve Asmussen to a sixth victory in the sprint for fillies and mares.

It was 1 1/4 lengths back in second to Fibber, who ended up edging third-place finisher Taxed by a nose.

The race was run over six furlongs.

Benedetta ($5.20) was launching her 4-year-old season after closing out last year’s campaign with two allowance wins at Churchill Downs and a victory in the $200,000 Cheryl S. White Memorial at Mahoning Valley.

In the American Beauty, she was content to sit in third, just off Moonlit Lady and First Hill, who raced together through an opening quarter in 22.13 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.68 for the half-mile. Benedetta moved in on the leaders and rallied through the stretch to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:12.06.

The surface had started out as “good’ for the card and was upgraded to fast for the third race.

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Keith Asmussen rode Benedetta for Kaleem Shah. The daughter of City of Light has now won 5 of 9 starts for earnings of $441,150.

The trophy presentation Saturday was made by Camille Cathey, who is the reigning Miss Arkansas. It is a longtime Oaklawn tradition for Miss Arkansas to present the trophy for the American Beauty.

Steve Asmussen’s other winners in the American Beauty are My Brent’s Diamond in 2001; Eternal Cup (2004); Souris (2005); More Moonlight (2006); and Rated Fiesty (2009).

Racing resumes Sunday. There also will be live racing Monday at Oaklawn.

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