Weep No More Stuns Ashland at 30-1

Ashbrook Farm's Weep No More spoiled the party April 9 in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland, when she closed from last in the short field of five to upset grade I winner Rachel's Valentina and previously undefeated Cathryn Sophia.



So far behind in the backstretch she wasn't even visible on the Keeneland in-house broadcast, the 30-1 Mineshaft   filly trained by Rusty Arnold closed in the short stretch under jockey Corey Lanerie to edge Rachel's Valentina by a neck.

"At the top of the lane, to be honest, I didn't think I would get up," Lanerie said. "I was rolling, I had a lot of horse, but with the short stretch, I was hoping to be third. Then about 70 yards from the wire, I was like, 'C'mon baby—we can get it.' She kept running and ran a huge race. Thanks to Rusty and them for the opportunity. What a great training job. He gave me all the confidence in the world, just to ride her, let her run her race and see what happens."

Heavily favored Cathryn Sophia was another neck back in third, and grade II winner Carina Mia came in fourth, another two lengths behind. Banree completed the order of finish.



The race came down to a stretch duel between Rachel's Valentina and Cathryn Sophia after Carina Mia set fractions of :24.18, :47.24, and 1:11.02 through six furlongs. But Weep No More soared late in the center of the track to hit the wire in 1:43.57 for 1 1/16 miles.

"Two turns, and she just came around," Arnold said of Weep No More's improvement. "Each race she's been better and better. Did we expect this? Not quite, but she's a step ahead of us.

"We've got the mile and eighth in the (Kentucky) Oaks (gr, I) coming up. Jack Bohannan did all the work with her. She was under quarantine at Payson, and he trained her two months. Great job."

The winner paid $62.20, $12.40, and $3.20. Rachel's Valentina brought $4.80 and $2.20, while Cathryn Sophia returned $2.10. 

Weep No More was a $120,000 purchase by Bo Bromagen, son of Ashbrook owner Glenn Bromagen, from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March 2015 sale of 2-year-olds in training. She is the first grade I winner selected by Bromagen and the second for Ashbrook, which also campaigned 2007 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) winner Wicked Style.