June 6, 2025 - Saratoga, Race 8, USD $100,000, 1 1/16mT, Maiden Special Weight
Dam: Limonar (Ire) , by Street Cry (Ire)
Owner: Peter M Brant & St Elias Stable
Breeder: St Elias Stables LLC (GB)
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
When last seen at Saratoga some 10 months ago, Asbury Park (GB) (c, 3, Frankel {GB}-Limonar {Ire}, by Street Cry {Ire}) took unsurprising action as the 8-5 favorite, passed several rivals in the lane but fell short in fifth and had been missing since. Returning Friday as the 7-5 favorite and bearing the silks of his breeder St Elias Stable, the fashionably bred colt was void of early speed from his middle draw and was dragged back to the latter third of the red-hot Flavien Prat through a driving rainstorm.
Ridden quietly with cover three or four off the fence down the backstretch, the dark bay was still well back entering the final three furlongs, but began to pick it up approaching the stretch, having been guided to the wide outside and out of harm's way. Asbury Park quickly gathered up the leaders nearing the eighth pole and from there it was academic, as he was about four lengths clear and well in hand under the wire to become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star'.
It was the fourth victory on the afternoon for Eclipse Award winner Prat and the third for Chad Brown, who also sent out the debuting Arkhipov (Munnings) to a promising runner-up effort on his career bow. Tom Collins (Frosted), the 2-1 second choice, was third.
Asbury Park's dam was bought back for 12,000gns at the 2008 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, but went on to overachieve at the races, winning in listed company in France for Carlos Laffon-Parias in 2011 before being acquired by St. Elias for breeding purposes. A half-sister to GI Shoemaker Mile winner Talco (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), Limonar is the dam of six winners from six to the races, including her first produce Mokarris (More Than Ready), a listed winner and Group 2-placed in England over sprint trips for Sheikh Hamdan in 2016.
Covered by Frankel's full-brother Noble Mission (GB) in 2015, the result was the top stayer Spanish Mission, a three-time group winner in Europe at distances between 2600 meters and 3600 meters, winner of the 2019 Jockey Club Derby at Belmont over the mile and a half and twice-placed at the highest level in Australia, including a third to Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200 meters) in 2021. Limonar's third black-type winner is Dude N Colorado (Colonel Liam), who was also placed at the Grade III level. Third dam Gossamer produced 2004 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Bachelor Duke (Miswaki).
Behind Asbury Park is a 2-year-old colt by Kingman (GB) foaled in Britain, but sent to the U.S. in 2024. Limonar also has a yearling colt by Frankel's son Cracksman (GB) and a colt by Blue Point (Ire) foaled Apr. 13.
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