The Arcadian Way rocketed to the lead right out of the starting gate and never looked back on her way to posting a determined head victory in a five-and-a-half furlong allowance optional claiming race at Golden Gate Fields August 29.
Trained by Blaine Wright for owner Mark Dodson, the two-year-old daughter of Astern was one of two fillies making their debuts when facing winners in this race. Even though she was making the first start of her career, The Arcadian Way was a complete professional, breaking sharply and going straight to the front under jockey Santos Rivera. The Arcadian Way rattled off some swift opening fractions but still had plenty in reserve to hold off the late challenge of Code Ribbon to win by a head.
Bred in Kentucky by Glendalough LLC, The Arcadian Way is one of six winners from seven foals to race out of Indian Love Call, a winning daughter of former Darley stallion, Cherokee Run. In addition to The Arcadian Way, Indian Love Call is the dam of the 2021 Graded Stakes-winning three-year-old filly, Madone (G2 San Clemente Stakes, G3 Senorita Stakes, etc.), and hails from the female family of G1 winners Boisterous and Gold Fever.
Two-year-olds from Astern's first crop were also well received at the sales with prices that included $375,000 and $340,000 for an average of $104,909. In addition to The Arcadian Way, Astern is represented by North American winners and Stakes-placed runners, Sail By and Mainstay. In Australia, he is represented by the undefeated two-year-old filly Seradess, winner of the Listed Cinderella Stakes, along with other "down under" juvenile Stakes winner Danger Strykes.
One of the best two and three-year-olds of his era, Astern retired to stud in 2018 as the highest-rated son of Medaglia d’Oro to enter Darley’s stallion ranks.
