It has been a red-letter day in America for Darley Stud's Astern.
It kicked off with his first U.S. stakes-winner with Sail By, a dominant winner of the Grade II Miss Grillo Stakes for two-year-old fillies over 1 1/16-mile on the turf at Belmont Park.
The two-year-old filly Tom's Beauty added to the score with a one and three-quarter length triumph in a 5-furlong maiden special weight on the turf at Santa Anita.
Another two-year-old filly, She's Like Thunder, could not quite make it a memorable trifecta when playing second fiddle to the More Than Ready (USA) filly Consumer Spending in the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park.
The Leah Gyarmati-trained Sail By returned to winning ways on the turf following a last-start third in the P. G. Johnston Stakes at Saratoga, which was switched from the turf to the main track.
With Junior Alvarado in the saddle, Sail By tracked the leader Charlee O in the running. The daughter of Astern was a menacing presence before the field turned for home.
Sail By comfortably held the challenge of Kinchen (Lope De Vega) by a length with the favourite McKulick (Frankel) a head back in third.
"She broke very sharply, was laying second beautifully and was relaxing nicely," Alvarado said told Bloodhorse.
"I knew I was going to have horse turning for home.
"I always thought she wouldn't have a problem stretching out.
"I was hoping she wouldn't get too sharp at the beginning. I knew she would get the distance for sure."
Winning trainer Leah Gyarmati said she would confer with owner-breeder Jeff Treadway regarding a start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on November 5.
"Any time you're even thinking about having that kind of opportunity is wonderful," Gyarmati said.
"I'll have to talk to Jeff, but I'm sure he is game and wants to go. That's a conversation we'll have to have."
Sail By advanced her record to two wins, a second and a third from four starts with earnings of US$193,800.
Sail By is the first foal of Fly By, a winning daughter of the former New Zealand shuttler Johar (USA), and is the first stakes-winner for the family in four generations.
Sail By is the third stakes-winner for Astern, following Group III Scarborough Stakes winner Seradess and Listed Castletown Stakes winner Danger Strikes.
The Group 1 winning son of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) stands for a fee of $16,500 at Darley Stud NSW this spring.
Astern
