Constellation Ruthless in Easy Victory

With half the field scratched Jan. 17, LNJ Foxwoods' Constellation made quick work of three overmatched challengers in the $100,000 Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.



The Bellamy Road   filly trained by Steve Asmussen immediately took control out of the gate, shook off a brief challenge by Wave of Glory in the turn, and opened up with ease under Irad Ortiz Jr. to win by 10 lengths. Kalabaka edged out Mo d'Amour for second place and Wave of Glory tired to finish last.



"She was much the best today," Ortiz said. "She just broke great out of there and she was ready. She does it easy."



Off as the 1-9 favorite, Constellation ($2.10) clicked off fractions of :23.57 and :47.15 through a half-mile and cruised to the wire to hit six furlongs in 1:10.89.



"The pressure is on when you're the favorite, (so) it's a relief and, of course, I'm happy for (Constellation)," said Asmussen's assistant Toby Sheets. "She's such a nice filly. She's very straightforward. She thinks she is the boss and we let her be the boss. We were kind of indecisive (about leaving her in New York), but the weather's been really nice, so that's helped a lot. We're just going to enjoy the win today and move on from there."



It was the 3-year-old filly's second straight stakes win, which followed a score in the Nov. 26 Furlough Stakes—by 8 1/4 lengths—last time out at Aqueduct. She was also graded stakes-placed during her 2-year-old year, with a second-place finish to Pretty N Cool in the Matron (gr. II) and a third-place finish—behind Rachel's Valentina and Tap to It—in the Spinaway (gr. I).



Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, out of the Not For Love mare For Royalty, Constellation has a 3-1-1 record from five starts and earnings of $274,800.