Asternia took the lead at the top of the stretch and never looked back as she cruised to a five-and-a-quarter length victory in the Listed Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, 16 March.
The victory in the six-furlong contest marked the first Stakes win for the three-year-old filly by Astern, and improved her record to two wins and two seconds in seven career starts.
A compact field of six three-year-old fillies went to the post for the Purple Martin, with Xtreme Diva sent off as the slight favorite. Asternia, off a bit slowly, was hustled up to contend for the early lead with Brooklynn Drew. Asternia then was asked to relax as she settled just off that one’s flank, content to wait to make her move.
Heading into the far turn, Asternia was asked to ‘go’ and immediately responded, dueling briefly with Brooklynn Drew before taking the lead. She then kicked clear, pulling steadily away through the stretch to win comfortably.
Bred in Kentucky by Joe B. Mulholland Jr. and John P. Mulholland, Asternia is out of La Chepis, a winning daughter of Super Saver. Asternia’s second dam is the Graded Stakes-placed Tiz to Dream (Tiznow), and she hails from the immediate family of Champion Gilded Time.
Winner of the 2016 G1 Golden Rose, Astern now has 12 individual Stakes winners of 22 Black Type races among his 176 winners.
They include G1 winners Golden Mile and Affaire A Suivre, plus quality gallopers Aft Cabin, Seradess, Sail By and Parisal.
