High Class extends win streak in Poinsettia Stakes
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Steve Asmussen’s sprint division was out in full force Saturday at Oaklawn Park, where High Class became a stakes winner in the $150,000 Poinsettia and Skelly won his sixth straight race in an allowance that served as his first start since May.
Both horses led throughout, winning over a fast surface.
High Class ($4) broke from the rail and proceeded to set fractions of 22.34 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.56 for the half-mile. She held for a neck win over Chandana, who finished by 1 1/4 lengths, clear of third-place finisher I’m the Boss of Me.
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High Class, who is 3, covered the 5 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares in 1:05.72.
Cristian Torres was aboard for owner Courtland Farms.
The Poinsettia marked the third straight win for High Class, who is a daughter of Into Mischief.
Skelly ($3.80) broke on top in the allowance held before the stakes and reeled off fractions of 22.13 for the opening quarter and 45.53 for the half-mile before winning the six-furlong race in 1:09.66. He finished 1 1/4 lengths clear of runner-up Edge to Edge.
Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard the winner for Red Lane Thoroughbreds.
Skelly won four straight races last meet at Oaklawn, led by the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap. Asmussen said before the start of this season that he ideally wanted to bring Skelly back in an allowance and ultimately point for the sprint stakes series at Oaklawn.
Skelly is a son of Practical Joke.
Racing resumes Sunday with a card featuring 10 races for 2-year-olds. The extended race week continues Monday with the running of the $300,000 Smarty Jones, a points race for the Kentucky Derby.
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