Coach Jonathan Thomas’ willingness to ship his horses paid off Nov. 24 as Mrs. Astor labored out an ideal journey to win the $101,000 Purple Carpet Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar.
The Purple Carpet marked the seventh begin this season at a sixth totally different observe for the 4-year-old Lookin At Fortunate filly, who most just lately was fourth within the Dowager Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland Oct. 20. After that begin she was shipped straight to California in preparation for this begin.
Eternally After All , the Dowager runner-up, was the odds-on favourite in Del Mar’s 1 3/8-mile turf contest and was in a terrific place on the rail down the backstretch after opening fractions of :24.85, :49.47 and 1:15.19. That was till Marksman Queen dropped over to the rail coming into the far flip, inflicting jockey Juan Hernandez to examine sharply aboard Eternally After All.
In the meantime, Mrs. Astor was getting an ideal journey from the skin. As if a pink carpet had been rolled out particularly for him, jockey Vincent Cheminaud took benefit of the favourite’s misfortune and used it as a sign to push ahead to the lead. Mrs. Astor surged previous the leaders three-wide and held off a rally by the resilient Eternally After All to win by a size in 2:16.82. Marksman Queen was third.
Mrs. Astor paid $11.60 to win.
The third win in Mrs. Astor’s 15 begins was her first graded triumph. A homebred for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stables, Mrs. Astor has earned $295,235 in her profession.
