NEWS
Freedom Star wins Azeri, Win Willy takes Razorback
Posted: Saturday, March 06, 2010 8:18 PM
FREEDOM STAR
Jeff Coady/Coady Photography
by Patrick Reed
Making her first start on dirt, Southern California-based Freedom Star scored a dominant wire-to-wire win in the $149,750 Azeri Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Oaklawn Park (video).
The four-year-old Street Cry (Ire) filly never was seriously threatened, easily holding off Grade 3 winner Euphony to win by 3¾ lengths under Calvin Borel. Freedom Star covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.09 on track rated as fast.
The victory followed two respectable efforts in graded stakes on Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface this winter. She set the early pace in both the 1 1/16-mile El Encino Stakes (G2) in January and the 1 1/8-mile La Canada Stakes (G2) in February before weakening to finish third and fifth, respectively, on a surface that has generally not been favorable to front-runners in two-turn races.
Shipped to the Midwest by trainer Bob Baffert for her first career start on a dirt surface, Freedom Star overwhelmed eight opponents in the Azeri to land her first stakes win.
The Azeri serves as Oaklawn’s traditional local prep race for the Apple Blossom Invitational Stakes (G1) on April 9, which as it stands today shapes up as one of the most-anticipated races in memory due to the planned showdown of champions Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. If she is entered in the Apple Blossom, Freedom Star’s ability to carry her speed around two turns could create a competitive pace scenario for Rachel Alexandra, who has raced on or near the lead in the majority of her victories.
Borel guided 2.80-to-1 second betting choice Freedom Star to a comfortable lead through the backstretch, covering a half-mile in :48.11. As field entered the far turn, Just Jenda mounted a challenge to the outside of Freedom Star, but the two-time-Grade 3 winner, making her first start since October, flattened out in early stretch while Freedom Star sprinted away.
Euphony closed well but was second best, finishing 1½ lengths ahead of 33.40-to-1 longshot Afleet Deceit. Just Jenda finished fourth, and 2.40-to-1 favorite War Echo never fired and finished fifth.
After winning one of her first four starts as a three-year-old, Freedom Star established her preferred front-running style last fall with solid wins in optional claiming races at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting and Hollywood Park, which prefaced her starts this year in the El Encino and La Canada. With her breakthrough win on Saturday, Freedom Star improved her career record to four wins in nine starts and boosted her earnings to $197,160. She is out of the stakes-winning Williamstown mare Willie’s Luv.
Two races earlier on Saturday’s card, Jer-Mar Stable’s Win Willy charged through the stretch to overtake pacesetter Spotsgone and win by 3¾ lengths in the $150,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) (video).
The four-year-old Monarchos colt improved his career record at Oaklawn to four wins in six starts. He covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.83 under Cliff Berry.
Grade 3 winner and 29.50-to-1 longshot Spotsgone led the eight-horse field through an opening half-mile in :47.11 and momentarily shook free in early stretch before giving way to Win Willy in the final sixteenth.
Gone Astray, winner of the 2009 Ohio Derby (G2) and Pennsylvania Derby, loomed a threat with a three-wide move on the second turn in his first start since November. He could not sustain the bid, however, and finished third as the 8-to-5 favorite, one length behind Spotsgone.
Win Willy briefly made some noise on the Triple Crown trail last spring with a 56.80-to-1 upset win in the Rebel Stakes (G2), but he did not win again as a three-year-old. He began his 2010 campaign by winning an optional claiming race at Oaklawn in January before finishing a late-closing second in the Essex Handicap on February 6. Trained by McLean Robertson, 2.70-to-1 second betting choice Win Willy improved his overall record to five wins in ten starts and earnings of $412,643.
For Equibase charts, click here.
Patrick Reed is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
