Quick, Hermaphrodite Finish 1-2 for Hronis in Astra
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Quick (outside) edges Hermaphrodite by a nose to win the Astra Stakes at Santa Anita Park
It was a 1-2 finish for trainer John Sadler and owners Hronis Racing Jan. 17 as speedy turf mare Quick got up for the win on the bob over stablemate Hermaphrodite in the $102,000 Astra Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Quick was the 9-5 favorite in Sunday's nine-horse field of older fillies and mares. The 5-year-old daughter of Olympic Glory lived up to her name before the race got under way and broke through the gate just as all the horses were loaded. Led back around to her post 8, the mare made a more successful second start and broke clean before settling back just off the pace in fourth.
Out on the lead from the break was 6-year-old Aunt Lubie and jockey Victor Espinoza, who led the field from the rail through fractions of :23.98, :48.25, and 1:13.59 in the opening six furlongs. Hot on her tail were Carpe Vinum and Hermaphrodite, who stayed within striking distance of the leader running just to her outside.
Cutting between foes off the clubhouse turn, Quick made her run at the leader near the seven-sixteenths pole and came charging. Carpe Vinum, Hermaphrodite, and Aunt Lubie fought back, but Quick forced her way to the front and was in command by a length at the top of the stretch.
Umberto Rispoli guides Quick to the winner's circle after the Astra Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Not to be outdone was Altea, who had bided her time running just off the rail near the back through most of the 1 1/2-mile downhill turf test. Angled out coming off the turn by jockey Abel Cedillo, Altea made a path down the center of the stretch late to make a bid for the lead.
Quick hammered her way to the wire with purposeful strides but was soon set upon by Hermaphrodite and jockey Joel Rosario to her inside. The pair battled neck and neck to the finish line but it was Quick who held on by a nose to claim the winning title. Final time for the race was 2:27.71. Altea got up in time to take third followed by Lucky Peridot in fourth.
"I planned in my mind to go forward and sit outside the lead. Obviously she was ready to break, so she broke first before everybody, but she's such a nice filly, she was a little bit excited today," said Rispoli. "I got a nice trip. Pace was not that fast, so I had to make a decision to move. I knew where I sat and I know her, she could go through, she's a galloper. When she moved again, I got lucky it was by the wire. Sometimes you need a little luck in these things.
"It's always a pleasure, it's probably not nice for him to hear, but it's always a pleasure to beat a jockey like (Rosario). He's so respectful, so nice. I asked him after the wire, 'Did you get me?' because my head was down, and I was just focusing to try to win the race. He said, 'No, no you got it.'"
Sunday's win was the first stakes score in North America for Quick. She came close to the winner's circle in November, running third in the Red Carpet Handicap (G3T) at Del Mar.
Bred in Great Britain by Brightwalton Bloodstock, Quick is out of the Rock of Gibraltar mare The Giving Tree. She made her first seven starts in England before arriving in Sadler's barn at the start of 2020. She was purchased by BBA Ireland for $43,199 from the East Everleigh Stables consignment to the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
"She got the trip she needed today," said assistant trainer Juan Leyva. "She got to relax, not be on the front end. She settled well and got a perfect trip. I think our other filly (runner-up Hermaphrodite) might have been a little better, but it worked out great, we ran 1-2."
Quick holds a 4-5-3 record from 16 starts and $170,335 in earnings.