Vertical Oak easy winner of Goldfinch Stakes

Vertical Oak splashed her way to a blowout victory in the $65,000 Goldfinch Stakes at rain-soaked Prairie Meadows on Saturday.

Going straight to the front under Ramon Vazquez, Vertical Oak was clear through splits of 23.08 seconds for her first quarter-mile and 46.31 to the half – and was long gone from there. Her lead had ballooned to eight lengths at the stretch call, and Vertical Oak coasted to a 7 3/4-length victory. She was timed in 1:09.77 over a sloppy, sealed track and paid $3.40 as the heavy favorite.

Nineteenth Street finished second, more than seven lengths in front of Win Winney, while Five Star Factor, who looked like Vertical Oak’s main competition, was scratched.

Steve Asmussen trains Vertical Oak for owners J. Kirk Robison and Judy Robison, who bought the filly as a yearling for $20,000. Vertical Oak, by Giant Oak out of Vertical Vision, by Pollard’s Vision, ran her record to 3-1-1 from seven starts with her Saturday score, and bumped her career earnings to $159,200. Asmussen also trained her dam, who won two Prairie Meadows stakes during her racing career.