Espinoza sets mark aboard Point Ashley
in Debutante
Zayat Stables’ POINT ASHLEY (Point Given) emerged an easy 2 1/2-length victress
in the $250,000
Del Mar Debutante S. (G1)
on Monday, giving jockey Victor Espinoza a record seventh win on one day at Del
Mar. Espinoza took hold of the bay juvenile filly as Mistical Plan (Game Plan) bolted to the early lead, carving opening fractions
of :21 1/5 and :44. She was not able to sustain the quick tempo, however, and was eventually
overtaken by Point Ashley, who moved three wide into the stretch and soon opened
up a
two-length advantage. Point Ashley wrapped up the seven-furlong event in
1:23 1/5 over the fast track.
The Bob Baffert trainee was sent off as the 8-5 favorite, giving back
payouts of $5.20, $3.20 and $2.80 and keying $1 exotics of $10.50 (exacta),
$71.60 (trifecta) and $241 for the 3-7-8-9 superfecta.
In the winner’s wake was a three-way photo for second. Untouched Talent
(Storm Cat) made a late rally between opponents to grab runner-up honors by a
nose, returning $3.60 and $3 at 3-1. She’s Included (Include) was denied second,
but managed to hold on for third, paying $4.80 at 20-1, and another nose adrift
came Outofthepast (Exchange Rate).
It was another 4 3/4 lengths back to Jump On In (Jump Start) in fifth, followed by Fillie by the
Bay (Elusive Quality), Nushka Babee (Aptitude) and Mistical Plan. Pinata (Vision
and Verse) was scratched.
Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. G. David Shashura and The Thoroughbred
Corporation,
Point Ashley is out of the unraced Slew O’ Gold mare Golden Thatch, making her a
half-sister to 1995 Landaluce S. (G2) heroine Raw Gold (Rahy), who won six other
stakes and amassed earnings in excess of $500,000 over the course of her career.
Golden Thatch most recently produced an unnamed yearling filly by Street Cry
(Ire).
Purchased for $725,000 at this year’s Keeneland April Sale of Two-Year-Olds
in Training, Point Ashley increased her
earnings to $187,200 with the $150,000 winner’s share and improved her record to 3-2-0-1.
In her previous start, she had romped to an impressive 4 1/4-length maiden win
over the track.