Elliott notches stakes triple for Asmussen

Jockey Stewart Elliott moved within 11 wins of career victory 5,000 on Wednesday, when he had a stakes triple at Lone Star Park.

The three victories came aboard horses bred and owned by Will Farish and trained by Steve Asmussen.

Elliott guided Direct Dial home in front in the $75,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial, while his winners in the $75,000 divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes were Island Sun and Great Affection.

The races were part of a program of four restricted stakes, with Corluna repeating in the $75,000 Lane’s End Danny Shifflett Scholarship.

Direct Dial ($2.60) stumbled significantly at the start of the Wayne Hanks for Texas-breds, recovered quickly, and took the lead in the stretch. He increased his advantage to the wire, for a 3 3/4-length win over Lullaby Bling. The winner covered 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:17.44.
Direct Dial is a son of Too Much Bling and was the 2018 Texas-bred of the year.

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Island Sun ($3.40) tracked the pace Wednesday en route to a 2 3/4-length win over Policy Limit in the colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes. He covered the five furlongs for 2-year-olds in 59.36 seconds. Island Sun is a Texas-bred by Too Much Bling.

Great Affection ($3.20) withstood pace pressure for much of the fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes before winning off by 3 1/4 lengths over Thatsalotofbling. The winner covered five furlongs for 2-year-olds in 59.65. Great Affection is a Texas-bred by Grasshopper.

The three stakes were run consecutively and were the three stakes in which Farish, Asmussen, and Elliott were represented. The men did not have a starter in the Lane’s End Shifflett Scholarship.

Corluna ($8.60) won that race for the second straight year when she shot to a 2 1/4-length win over Herbs Love. The 7 1/2 furlongs for Texas-bred fillies and mares was run on firm turf, in 1:28.97. Richard Eramia was aboard for breeder and owner Ian Yarnot and trainer Sarah Delany. They also teamed to win the race last year with Corluna. Corluna is a daughter of Unbridled's Heart.

Racing resumes Sunday.