On Friday, December 28, 2024, Mrs. Astor clinched her second consecutive graded stakes victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita. The race, run over 1 1/8 miles on turf, saw Mrs. Astor, trained by Jonathan Thomas, edge out Mahina by the narrowest of margins in a thrilling photo finish.
The Race: A Close Battle
Mrs. Astor, a 5-1 shot, made a strong rally from mid-pack to take the win. She narrowly defeated Mahina, an 11-1 long shot, in what turned out to be an exciting final stretch. The race field was competitive, with stablemate Mouffy (3-1) and the 3-5 favorite Hang the Moon finishing out of the money.
For Mrs. Astor, this victory came on the heels of a win in the Red Carpet Stakes (G3) at Del Mar on November 24, marking her first stakes victory. Despite initial concerns about the shorter distance of the race, her connections believed she had the ability to handle the challenge.
The Strategy and Performance
Trainer Jonathan Thomas was initially unsure about Mrs. Astor’s ability to handle the shorter distance. However, he believed that with the right trip, she could do well. The race unfolded with Omaha Girl, the longest shot at 14-1, setting a moderate pace. Mrs. Astor settled in the middle of the pack early on, but as the race continued, she started to gain ground on the leaders.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, who had ridden Mrs. Astor to a second-place finish in a race at Aqueduct earlier in the year, was able to guide her to victory. Despite concerns about the pace of the race, Dettori kept Mrs. Astor close to the favorite, Hang the Moon, and made his move in the final turn. Mrs. Astor surged in the final stretch to win by a nose.
Race Results and Final Standings
In the final standings, Mahina took second place, finishing just a half-length ahead of Yerwanthere, another 9-1 long shot trained by Patrick Gallagher. Mrs. Astor’s victory increased her earnings to $355,235, with a record of 4 wins, 4 second-place finishes, and 3 third-place finishes from 16 starts. The filly paid $13.00 to win, $5.60 to place, and $4.20 to show. Mahina paid $8.60 to place and $4.60 to show, while Yerwanthere returned $4.40 for third.
This thrilling win at Santa Anita adds to Mrs. Astor’s growing reputation as a talented filly. The victory proves her ability to handle tough competition and various race distances, showing that she has a bright future ahead. Her connections will likely be excited to see where she goes next in her racing career.
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