Hronis Racing LLC’s Stellar Wind ran down Terra Promessa in Friday’s $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) to capture her 2017 debut at Oaklawn Park.
Stellar Wind found herself running along the rail under jockey Victor Espinoza after the gates opened, just behind Terra Promessa, who set the pace through splits of :23.88, :48.22 and 1:12.59 on the fast dirt. Espinoza angled Stellar Wind out on the turn and she set her sights on the leader.
Terra Promessa wouldn’t yield, though, fighting back on the inside as the chestnut mare ranged up. The duo duked it out, with Stellar Wind finally inching away to be 1 1/4 lengths clear on the wire. The five-year-old mare – who, like Terra Promessa, is by Curlin – finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.75 for trainer John Sadler.
Stellar Wind was making her first start in this spot since running fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) last November 4 at Santa Anita Park. She was sent off the 2-5 favorite and returned $2.80 for the win.
Terra Promessa was attempting to rebound off a subpar fifth in the Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn on March 18 and proved best of the rest, 3 1/4 lengths up on Streamline in third. Tiger Moth followed by another three lengths while holding fourth by a neck over Divine Elegance. Durango rounded out the order of finish.
Stellar Wind improved her record to 13-8-2-1, $1,813,200, with this win. The mare was honored as the 2015 champion three-year-old after scoring victories in the Summertime Oaks (G2), Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) and Torrey Pine Stakes (G3) as well as a neck second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). She raced only four times last year, finishing second to multiple champion Beholder in the Vanity Mile (G1) before defeating that rival in both the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) and Zenyatta Stakes (G1).
Stellar Wind tried for a third straight win over Beholder in the 2016 Distaff, but found herself finishing fourth as her rival went on to score over Songbird. With the Apple Blossom under her girth, the five-year-old is now headed back to the Vanity Mile, which has been re-named the Beholder.
Bred in Virginia by Keswick Stables and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, Stellar Wind is the first registered foal out of the Malibu Moon mare Evening Star. Her second dam is the Northern Fashion mare Sequins, from whom is descended Grade 1 winners Mor Spirit and Great Hunter. This female family also includes multiple Grade 1 queen Love Sign.
APPLE BLOSSOM QUOTES
Victor Espinoza, jockey Stellar Wind, winner
On wearing the blanket of white and hot-pink carnations, which he said weighed 200 pounds
“Listen, when I win, nothing is heavy. I mean, these weigh more than me. But now that I win with Stellar Wind, I feel like they are light.”
On his trip
“It was great. I thought it was good when she broke out of there great. Then in the first turn, I thought my trip was not so good because I got stuck in behind the leaders on the inside. I think, OK, if the outside horse doesn’t get tired at the end, I might have some trouble. But it worked out well. Because the other one couldn’t keep up with the leader. I had a little time to move out and just move forward to attack the one on the lead.
“I think she’s better than before. I always believed in her. As she’s gotten older, she’s more mature, more professional. But it seems like this year, she’s coming back great, and maybe even a little better than last year.
“I really do want her to run in the Breeders’ Cup and get her a win. She’s had a little bit of bad luck the last two times. The first time, she got carried a little wide and I just got beat at Keeneland. Last time, she missed the break and that was it. The race was over for her. Hopefully this will be her year.”
John Sadler, trainer Stellar Wind, winner
“There’s plenty of reservations, always with good horses, that you’re doing the right thing (bringing them for another season). After her three-year-old year, we talked about going two more years. She’s a late-maturing filly, and we thought she had a chance to be her best at four and five. (Owner) Kosta (Hronis) said last year, ‘If you think she’s going to be good, we don’t want to stop on her.’ She came out of the Breeders’ Cup in good shape, gave her a little rest and got her back here.
“I was happy she had an eye on that 1 horse (Terra Promessa). I didn’t want that horse to get too easy a lead. So he was stalking her from the inside, then he came to the outside. I knew as long as (jockey) Victor (Espinoza) had an eye on the 1 horse, we’d be in good shape. She’s got a nice kick and a lot of ability to go the distance.
“Terra Promessa ran a great race. Barbara Banke (owner of Terra Promessa and co-breeder of Stellar Wind) came up to the table and said, ‘I hope it’s a Curlin exacta.’ I said, ‘Me, too.’ Just thinking with a different Curlin.
“We’ll get her home and look at the races around the country. We’d like to run once at home. It’s her home base. Probably run in the Beholder (Stakes [G1], formerly named the Vanity and now named for the multiple champion whom Stellar Wind beat twice and lost to twice last year).”
Kosta Hronis, owner Stellar Wind, winner
“She wanted another year under her belt, she wanted to race. She’s in great shape, so we thought we’d keep her on the track at least another year. We’re happy with her comeback race. Just really proud of her.”
Unfinished business in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff?
“She definitely does. That’s probably one of the main reasons she’s back (racing). We love her.”
Stephanie Hronis, owner Stellar Wind, winner
“Just honored to be part of the journey with her. She’s special.”
Steve Asmussen, trainer Terra Promessa, second
“She ran a good race. I mean, she really did. Hat’s off to a champion who beat her, but Terra Promessa definitely ran a good race. A nice Curlin exacta.
“As bad as the Azeri went (when she finished fifth), I think she rebounded from that. No aftereffects from the trip in the Azeri and she ran her race today. She got beat by arguably the best mare in the country, and she’ll go to Churchill Downs from here. And if we think she needs a little time, (owner) Stonestreet, the farm where she spent a lot of time at, is right there. But she ran a very good race today to be second to a champion.”
Jose Ortiz, jockey Terra Promessa, second
“I think she ran great. She broke great and ran the half in :48 1/5 which was perfect I think. When I asked her to go, she gave me a great turn of foot. The other filly did so well too. We went head to head and she beat me today, but my filly gave a great effort.”
Brian Williamson, trainer Streamline, third
“She ran good, we were just third best. It isn’t any shame to get beat by those two, I’m going to tell you that. That’s all we can ask for. Looked like she pulled up good.”
Chris Landeros, jockey Streamline, third
“She ran good, no excuses. (If I could do something differently) I would have stayed with Terra Promessa.”
