Pantsonfire makes Astra first stakes triumph
ARCADIA, Calif. - Pantsonfire won her first stakes in Sunday’s Grade 3 Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita, a race marred by a fatal accident suffered by leading contender Amboseli in the first half-mile.
Sent off favored, Pantsonfire ($6.20) closed from fifth in a field of nine to take the lead in early stretch. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Pantsonfire pulled clear in the final furlong to win by 5 1/4 lengths, finishing 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:27.83.
Pantsonfire earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90, a career best.
Amboseli, who was second in the Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 22, was pulled up by jockey Kent Desormeaux when the field reached the stretch for the first time. Amboseli sustained a severe injury to a hind leg and could not be saved, stewards said. Amboseli was the 5-2 second choice and was favored until a few minutes before post time.
Pantsonfire, a 5-year-old Irish-bred mare by Sir Percy, was ridden for the first time by Prat. Through the first half of the $101,404 race, Prat had Pantsonfire several lengths behind India Mantuana and Plein Air, who set a strong pace of 23.85 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.02 for a half-mile.
“We had some pace in front of us,” Prat said. “I knew they would come back to us.”
Plein Air, who won the 2018 Astra Stakes in her American debut, led by 1 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining, but was quickly challenged by K P Pergoliscious, the mount of jockey Mike Smith. Prat was deliberately stalking K P Pergoliscious.
“I was following Mike’s filly,” Prat said. “I thought she had a good chance.”
K P Pergoliscious, who was second in the Grade 1 American Oaks on Dec. 29, could not keep pace with Pantsonfire, but held second, finishing a half-length in front of 11-1 Lynne’s Legacy.
Plein Air faded to finish fourth, followed by Trust Fund Kitty, Arctic Roll, Copper Fever, and India Mantuana. Cheekaboo was withdrawn on Sunday morning.
Pantsonfire races for the partnership of Next Wave Racing, Pat Maciariello, Jeremy Peskoff, and Mark Silverstein and is trained by Richard Baltas. The Astra Stakes was Pantsonfire’s first win in seven starts, since an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option here last April. Panstsonfire has won 4 of 20 starts and earned $218,936.
Pantsonfire started in six stakes following the April win. Her best results in that span was third-place finishes in two turf marathons here for fillies and mares – the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes last April and the Possibly Perfect Stakes last June.
