Astra Surprises Starine, Desormeaux in Victory

Starine ran more than well enough to win the $474,000 Gamely Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Monday at Hollywood Park.

Unfortunately for her, the field for the Grade I also included Astra, the top female turf performer in the country, who demonstrated why she deserves that label.

Seemingly beaten with less than an eighth of a mile to go, Astra, the defending champion, showed the quick turn of foot she has demonstrated on numerous other occasions and got up to beat Starine, the 9-5 second choice, by a head.

An 8-5 favorite, the 6-year-old Theatrical mare won for the 10th time in 14 starts and completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46 4/5 under jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Her latest victory for Laura De Seroux, who trains her for the family of the late Allen Paulson, pushed her career earnings over $1 million. She has now banked $1,088,424.

“From the head of the lane until the eighth pole, I thought I was going to be second,” said Desormeaux. “I had conceded [to Starine]. But Astra just kept building momentum.

“I could feel the hair rise on the back of my neck. I might be a little bit prejudiced because I ride her, but there is not another horse with the turn of foot she has. She is the best of them.”

Starine, who had drawn away to a 1 1/2-length lead with a furlong to run after getting a perfect ride from jockey Alex Solis, finished a length in front of 3-1 third choice Voodoo Dancer. Then came Crazy Ensign, Snow Dance and Old Money.

De Seroux indicated Astra, who has won five of six starts at 1 1/8 miles, will try to defend her title in the $250,000 Beverly Hills Handicap on June 29, then try the Beverly D. at Arlington Park later in the summer before the Breeders’ Cup Filly or Mare Turf.

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Second to stablemate Silic in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile in 1999 and 2000, Ladies Din broke through with a win in the grassy Grade I on Monday at Hollywood Park.

Giving trainer Julio Canani his third victory in the race in four years, the 7-year-old Din’s Dancer gelding and 2-1 favorite took charge in the final eighth of a mile to win by three lengths in 1:33 1/5.

Owned by Terry Lanni and Bernie Schiappa, Ladies Din was ridden by Patrick Valenzuela as he won for the 12th time in 35 starts. The $240,000 payday pushed his earnings to $1,955,504.

“Ladies Din was in the right place, moved at the right time and the race was history,” said Canani. “I don’t want to be cocky, but believe me, Ladies Din is a special horse.

“I’m going to try to win the Breeders’ Cup [Mile] this year. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but that is the goal for this horse.”

Redattore, the 4-1 third choice, finished a length in front of Spinelessjellyfish, the longest shot in the field at 71-1, then came Orientate, Thady Quill, Special Ring (the other Canani entrant), Casey Griffin, Touch Of The Blues, The Tin Man and Irish Prize, the defending champion.

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Beaten in his first two races of the year in California, Swept Overboard woke up in a big way Monday in New York.

Overlooked in the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, the 5-year-old gray rolled to a 4 3/4-length victory over Aldebaran and eight others in 1:33 1/5.

Ridden for the first time by Jorge Chavez, Swept Overboard paid $24.60 for his eighth win in 18 starts and the $450,000 he earned for owner J. Paul Redddam and trainer Craig Dollase put him over $1.1 million for his career.

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Making his first start since finishing third in the Jim Dandy Stakes last Aug. 4, Congaree, the 4-5 favorite, led all the way under jockey Pat Day to win the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap in Grand Prairie, Texas.