Star of Whitney now 3 for 3 on grass

Star of Whitney ($7.60) continued her ascent with a demonstrative victory in Saturday's $45,000 Desert Sky Handicap at Turf Paradise.

Owned by John Christensen and trained by Dennis Sowers, the 4-year-old Star of Whitney was sent off the 5-2 favorite in the field of 10 going a mile on the turf. She sat a couple lengths off the pace under Sandi Gann, steadily advanced to the top of the lane, and then blasted clear and held off the hard-charging Evening Escort by 1 1/4 lengths, getting the distance on firm turf in 1:37.47.

Star of Whitney is now 3 for 3 on the turf. The winner's share of $27,000 pushes her career record to 5 wins in 12 starts for $69,770.

Evening Escort, the second choice in the wagering, nearly overcame the extreme outside post, rallying well to be second. Sweet Ambition prompted the pace and kept on gamely to be third. Be My Friend, well backedf at 3-1, was fifth early but was pulled up on the backstretch and vanned off.