Australasia Extends Win Streak to Six in Jersey Girl
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Elsa Lorieul
Australasia wins the Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont Park
Magnifico Stable's Australasia extended her win streak to six with a last-to-first charge under Joel Rosario in the June 6 $145,500 Jersey Girl Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies at Belmont Park.
Trained by Brad Cox, who captured the June 5 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) with Essential Quality , the undefeated Louisiana-bred Australasia won a trio of restricted stakes in her home state before venturing to Churchill Downs last out to win a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming contest April 30.
Cox said he was impressed with the winning effort from Australasia in her New York debut.
"I'm not sure she's a six-furlong horse. I think things have to set up for her to win going three-quarters. I think she's more like middle distance," said Cox. "I was uncertain she'd be able to compete outside the Louisiana-bred company. Obviously, she won the open '1X' last time but at the stake level, when you cross the Hudson, the water gets deep. She was able to swim though, so I was proud of her."
Miss Brazil , who scratched out of Saturday's Acorn Stakes (G1), broke through the gate before the start and after being re-loaded was off a step slow as Luis Saez sent Bella Sofia to lead the five-horse field through pressured splits of :22.55 and :45.68 to the half-mile on the fast main track.
Bella Sofia and Miss Brazil battled it out down the lane, but Rosario tipped Australasia out wide in the stretch run and powered home a one-length winner in a final time of 1:09.19. The winner paid $10.60 for a $2 win ticket.
"She broke good and Brad told me to take my time with her," said Rosario. "I had to tip her out a little bit and she came with a nice run at the end.
"She covered a lot of ground and was able to get there. For a second, I was worried they had gotten away from me and I wasn't going to be able to get there, but she did it. It was a very good performance."
Bella Sofia won the duel for second by a head over Miss Brazil. Decade and Dr B rounded out the order of finish. Shop Girl was scratched.
Saez said his filly dug in gamely to win the place battle.
"She was fighting hard with the other one, but the winner came flying on the outside," said Saez, who piloted Essential Quality to victory in the Belmont Stakes.
By Sky Kingdom , Australasia was a $130,000 purchase from the Woodside Ranch consignment by Hubert Guy Bloodstock at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She previously sold for $13,000 to Bryan Rice at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale when consigned by Shawhan Place.
J. Adcock and Hume Wornall bred Australasia out of the Tiznow mare Ayala Strand, who has since produced I Have a Deal, an unraced 2-year-old filly by El Deal ; Tap Iron Fist, a yearling filly by Iron Fist ; and was bred to One Liner for 2021.
Australasia captured the 7 1/2-furlong Louisiana Jewel in January and the one-mile LA Bred Premier Starlet in February at Delta Downs ahead of a score in the Crescent City Oaks in March traveling a mile and seventy yards at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Cox said she could try deeper waters at Saratoga Race Course, targeting a potential start in the seven-furlong Aug. 7 Longines Test Stakes (G1).
"Maybe," said Cox. "That could be a race where things could set up for her, too."
Perfect in six starts, Australasia has earned $320,388.