GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Monday, May 30, 2022) — California-invader Park Avenue led the field passed every pole on the turf course at Lone Star Park to post a one-length victory in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff on the turf in front-running fashion.
With trainer John Sadler handing the riding assignment to Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza, the four-year-old daughter of Quality Road was coming into the 8-furlong turf stakes in Texas off of a fifth-place finish in the Santa Margarita Stakes(G2) at Santa Anita in late April. Prior to the win in the Ouija Board at Lone Star Park on Memorial Day, her top-career performance came in her second-place effort in the La Canada Stakes(G3) at Santa Anita on January 1, 2022.
In the Ouija Board Distaff on May 30, 2022, the Sadler trainee was sent off as the favorite at post time against eight other starters. Leonard Powell trained Avenue de France(FR) took a short lead coming into the stretch with jockey Florent Geroux aboard urging his mount to the wire. With a sixteenth-mile left to run, Park Avenue fought back to regain the lead, and out-kicked Avenue de France (FR) to the finish line to claim victory in the $200,000 turf-event.
“I felt her kind of waiting on the other horses on the lead and as we turned into the stretch,” said jockey Victor Espinoza. “Avenue de France (FR) put her head in front, and I went to really riding her to get her attention. She then dug down and really ran a good race to beat the other horse to the wire.”
Park Avenue stopped the timer for the one-mile turf event at 1:35.13 in the one-length margin. The four-year-old filly earned $112,512 for the victory to push her career earnings to $316,412 from four wins in eleven-career starts.
As the post time favorite, Park Avenue only returned $3.60 for the win, $2.40 for the place, and $2.20 to show. Avenue de France (FR) lead the rest of the field with an order of finish of Quinn Ella, Lavender (IRE), Pretty In Pink, Shirley’s Temple, Island Hideaway(GB) It’sfiftyshadetime, and Brandons Babe.
CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE STAKES
Bret Calhoun trained Excess Magic went four-wide in the stretch after a sustained run from the three-eighths pole under jockey Reylu Gutierrez to rally past the leaders to snatch victory in the $100,000 Chamberlain Bridge Stakes.
The four-year-old son of Magician(IRE) stopped the timers for the five-furlong turf stakes in :56.34 while posting a half-length win for owner William T. Reed. It was the colts second-career stakes victory in the Chamberlain Bridge that has moved his career earnings to $254,687.
“I was hoping to get the outside with Excess Magic and I was intent on following the path of Archidust into the stretch ,” said jockey Reylu Gutierrez. “The Karen Jacks trained Tiz Magic seemed to re-break in the stretch and I felt for a moment that we were going to have an issue catching that horse. My horse dug down and went to battling Archidust to the wire, and to pass the other horses in deep stretch.”
Steve Asmussen Archidust secured the place spot over the remainder of the field in the five-furlong turf stakes. The remaining order of finish was Tiz Magic, Sign Of War, Spirit Animal, Zip Tie, and Bob’s Bad Boy.
Memorial Day Sprint
Four-year-old filly Kaylpso added another stakes victory on the day for the winning trainer and jockey combination of Steve Asmussen and Stewart Elliot in the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint.
The Brody’s Cause filly was the winner of the La Brea Stakes (G1) while she was under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert while in California throughout her two-year-old and three-year-old campaign. The filly was in the barn of trainer Brad Cox in early April as she was sent out to an eighth-place finish in the Madison Stakes(G1).
Running as an Asmussen-trainee for the first time, Kalypso sat right off the early leader Our Iris Rose before heading the rival turning for home in the six-furlong contest for three-year-old fillies and mares. Under vigorous urging from jockey Stewart Elliot, Kalypso drew away from the field and held off a prominent effort from Jayde Gelner trained Becca’s Rocket.
The fourth-career victory for Kalypso in twelve career starts moves her career earnings to $569,878.
Speightstown Sprint
With a field of nine reduced by two scratches prior to post, Shawn Davis trained It Makes Sense rolled to victory under jockey Jose Alvarez to capture the inaugural running of the $100,000 Speightstown Sprint at six-furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.
The seven-year-old gelding by Majestic Warrior stalked the pace down the backstretch, and made a four-wide move to get up for an easy win in late stretch over Payne. It Makes Sense stopped the timers at 1:10.29 for the six-furlong test for owner-trainer Shawn Davis.
This was the first stakes win for the gelding, who now sports a record of 8-wins from 27 starts, and a career bankroll of $225,524.
Reported on-track handle for the twelve-race card on Memorial Day at Lone Star Park was $1,016,351, according to Equibase. The reported total handle from all sources was at $4,791,312. Attendance for the the Lone Star Million Day of 2022 increased by 37% from last years attendance. Total 2022 attendance for Memorial Day was reported at 8,035.
Lone Star Park’s Thoroughbred Season of 2022 continues through Sunday July 24, 2022, with fourteen more stakes events slated for the remainder of the meet. The inaugural running of the $300,000 Texas Turf Classic on July 16th highlights the upcoming summer Turf Festival, which offers three other turf stakes events at $150,000 each that is carded for that race day.
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