Ms Peintour caps big day for Koriner in Astra Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – A new distance, combined with an ideal stalking trip, led to the first career stakes win by Ms Peintour in Sunday’s Grade 3 Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

Ms Peintour was seventh of eighth in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Dec. 28, in her first stakes appearance in 17 months, but ran a much brighter race in the $101,000 Astra Stakes.

Ridden by Brice Blanc, Ms Peintour stalked pacesetter Lostintranzlation, racing as close as second and as far back as fourth in a field of seven through the first mile. In the stretch, Ms Peintour ($28.40) took the lead and pulled away to win by two lengths over 7-5 favorite Tiny Tina.

“She doesn’t have a turn of foot, but she acts like she wants to go and go,” trainer Brian Koriner said. “She ran big today. It all worked out.”

Ms Peintour was timed in 2:26.71 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Tiny Tina, second by a nose in the Frankel Stakes, was well-placed on the turn, and closed some ground in the stretch. She finished a length in front of Siberian Iris, who had not raced since September.

Blue Diva finished fourth, followed by Heathers Grey, Lostintranzlation, and Trust Fund Kitty.

Ms Peintour gave Koriner his third win of the day from four starters.

A 5-year-old mare by Paynter, Ms Peintour has won 3 of 13 starts and earned $166,534 for owner Samantha Siegel. In 2018, Ms Peintour ran in three consecutive graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Her best result in that span was a third in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.