Gaffalione stays hot with Asternia in Twin Bridges Stakes.
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Jockey Tyler Gaffalione scored another stakes win at Ellis Park as he continues a quick start to his comeback. On Monday, Gaffalione guided Asternia to a stalk-and-pounce victory in the $150,000 Twin Bridges Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.
Gaffalione was sidelined in late March after breaking his left ankle at Gulfstream Park. He returned to the races on Saturday at Ellis with a single ride. The following day, he won with both his mounts, including Banishing in the Jeff Hall Memorial. Asternia, trained by Randy Morse, was one of his three wins on Monday.
Asternia ($7.24) stalked the sharp opening quarter of Dashingly, who raced inside of the eventual winner through 22.01 seconds on a sloppy, sealed track.
Asternia made her bid around the far turn, and began to inch in front at the quarter pole. She opened a multi-length lead in upper stretch, and had enough left to hold a closing Mink’s Palace at bay for a handy one-length score.
Tapit Quick finished third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Mink’s Palace. Fibber a slight 5-2 favorite over Asternia, ended up fifth.
Asternia paid $7.24 in the seven-horse field. The final time was 1:10.26.
The Twin Bridges was the second career stakes win for Asternia, who took the Purple Martin Stakes in early 2024 at Oaklawn Park. The 4-year-old Astern filly’s only prior win this season came at Oaklawn at the allowance level.
Following that score she was off the board in a pair of turf stakes. She hinted she was coming back to hand back on her preferred surface with a solid runner-up effort at Churchill Downs last out.
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