Pauline's Pearl powers past Golden Curl late in Houston Ladies Classic
Pauline’s Pearl launched her 4-year-old season with a determined, 3 3/4-length victory over Golden Curl in the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Sunday at Sam Houston Race Park.
It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Audrey’s Time.
The Houston Ladies Classic was the centerpiece on a program of six stakes worth $1 million. The Houston Racing Festival also featured the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup won in a dead heat by Another Mystery and Fantasioso, and the $200,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile won by Red Run.
Pauline’s Pearl ($3.20) stalked the pace in the early stages as The Mary Rose moved to the lead shortly after the start and set fractions of 23.60 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.27 for the half-mile and 1:11.49 for six furlongs. Pauline’s Pearl advanced on the final turn, pushed past new leader Golden Curl in the later stages, and went on to cover the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.43.
Joel Rosario was aboard Pauline’s Pearl for trainer Steve Asmussen, who was winning his third Houston Ladies Classic behind Midnight Bisou in 2019 and Lady Apple in 2020.
“That’s extremely good company,” Asmussen said in a post-race interview broadcast by Sam Houston. “It’s a very key race in the division. The mares that have won the last few years have had a say in important races throughout the year.”
Pauline’s Pearl closed out her 3-year-old season in November with a win in the $200,000 Zia Park Oaks. For the effort, she earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96.
“After her Zia Park Oaks win, this was the target,” Asmussen said. “She trained beautifully toward it.”
Pauline’s Pearl is a daughter of Tapit and the Grade 1-winning mare Hot Dixie Chick. She races for her breeder, Stonestreet Stable. Pauline’s Pearl earned $235,200 for the victory to improve her career totals to four wins from 11 starts for earnings of $968,500.
Asmussen said Pauline’s Pearl would be considered for stakes at Oaklawn. Last year she won the track's main event for 3-year-old fillies, the Grade 3 Fantasy.
The Houston Ladies Classic was the second straight stakes win on the card for Asmussen and Rosario, who one race prior captured the $200,000 Bob Bork Texas Mile with Red Run.
Greeley and Ben takes Stonerside
Greeley and Ben, who was one of the winningest horses of 2021, won his second straight race in 2022 in the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint at Sam Houston.
Greeley and Ben ($9) dueled through fractions of 21.76 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.42 for the half-mile before fighting off a host of challengers to win the six-furlong race run on a fast track in 1:09.42.
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“Super awesome game horse,” winning rider Ry Eikleberry said in an interview broadcast by Sam Houston. “Probably the most consistent horse I’ve ever seen.”
Karl Broberg owns and trains Greeley and Ben, who opened his year with a victory in the $75,000 Sam's Town at Delta Downs.
Greeley and Ben on Sunday won by three-quarters of a length over Mr Money Bags.
Broberg was winning his second stakes on the card in the Stonerside, having captured the $100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint with Seven Scents.