Dogwood Trail wins rematch with Huasca, takes down Azalea Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dogwood Trail avenged her previous setback at the hands of Huasca four weeks earlier when it really counted, in her graded stakes debut, leading throughout to register a 1 1/4-length triumph over the 3-2 favorite in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Azalea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Huasca stalked and ran down Dogwood Trail to post a one-length decision when the pair met in an overnight handicap here June 6, but there was no catching Dogwood Trail in the rematch. The homebred daughter of Awesome of Course controlled the pace from the outset under Jesus Rios and found something in reserve when engaged by Huasca near midstretch to be edge clear at the end. I’m a Looker rallied widest into the stretch to finish third.

Huasca had an eventful trip in the seven-furlong Azalea, steadying repeatedly in traffic down the backstretch before being forced to angle extremely wide launching her bid into the stretch.

Dogwood Trail is trained by Stanley Gold for owner-breeder Jacks or Better Farm. She completed seven furlongs in 1:22.12 and paid $8.20.

“They laid off a little this time, so she didn’t get pressed quite as hard, but they were breathing down her back,” said Gold. “When [Huasca] came to her, she had a good head of steam, and I wasn’t sure whether my filly had enough left, but she did. She ran a good, game race. She ran a good time, too. The track’s not that fast right now. That’s got to be her best race so far. Her first win this year was impressive, but there were some really good horses in this one.”