By J.N. Campbell
With a big kick down the lane, Asbury Park (GB) (Frankel (GB)–Limonar (Ire), by Street Cry {Ire}) rolled home to take the GII Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at the Big A on Saturday.
Named a 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard, after the colt won at second asking in what was his 3-year-old debut over the grass going two turns upstate June 6, Asbury Park was well-beaten against optional claimers at course and distance July 18. The Chad Brown trainee was last seen running third in the Saranac Stakes at Saratoga Sept. 1. Asbury Park went off as the 2-1 second choice on the tote here behind fellow 'Rising Star' and stablemate Hill Road (Quality Road).
The colt settled towards the rear of the field into the first turn, as Crudo (Justify) attempted to run them off their feet. By the top of the lane though, the dark bay was ready to gun his engine and that is exactly what put him in the thick of the action past the eighth pole. His nice turn of foot won the day over Noble Confessor (Quality Road), which gave St. Elias the Exacta. Hill Road ended up third.
“It was a really fairly run race,” said trainer Chad Brown. “The pace was honest enough and he [Manny Franco, aboard Asbury Park]–after leaving with good intent to get the pace going–was able to guide him back towards the rear and towards the fence and covered up. That's where he wants to be. He really worked out a good trip from there. That's a couple nice stakes wins today with Manny–he's done a great job for us.”
Pedigree Notes:
The magnificent Frankel (GB) continues to rack up the graded/group winners on the international stage–111 currently.
Asbury Park's dam was repurchased for 12,000gns at the 2008 Tattersalls December Foal sale, but found success at the races before being acquired to breed for St. Elias.
A half-sister to GI Shoemaker Mile hero Talco (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), Limonar is the dam of English stakes winner Mokarris (More Than Ready). Covered by Frankel's full-brother Noble Mission (GB) in 2015, the result was top stayer Spanish Mission, who among his many accomplishments took the 2019 Jockey Club Derby Invitational at Belmont and was third in the 2021 G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup. Limonar's third black-type winner is Dude N Colorado (Colonel Liam), who was also placed at the Grade III level.
Down the page, third dam Gossamer (Seattle Slew) produced 2004 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Bachelor Duke (Miswaki).
Asbury Park has a 2-year-old half-brother by Kingman (GB) foaled in England, but sent to the U.S. in 2024. Limonar also claims a yearling colt by Frankel's son Cracksman (GB), who is on offer in Book 2 of this year's Tattersalls October sale, and she foaled a colt by Blue Point (Ire) Apr. 13.
ASBURY PARK gets his first stakes win in the Grade 2 Jockey Club Derby Invitational with @jockeyfranco up for trainer Chad Brown. Another stakes win today for Manny! pic.twitter.com/OjDyFzbn74
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) October 4, 2025
Saturday, Belmont Big A
JOCKEY CLUB DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GII, $500,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-4, 3yo, 1 3/8mT, 2:14.45, fm.
1–ASBURY PARK (GB), 122, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Limonar (Ire) (SW-Fr, $124,447), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Trylko, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Gossamer, by Seattle Slew
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. (250,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Peter M. Brant and St. Elias Stable; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Manuel Franco. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-1, $350,860. *1/2 to Dude N Colorado (GB) (Uncle Mo), SW & GSP, $273,376; 1/2 to Mokarris (More Than Ready), SW & GSP-Eng; 1/2 to Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}), MGSW & G1SP-Eng, SW-USA, MG1SP-Aus, $2,139,535. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Noble Confessor, 122, c, 3, Quality Road–Sweeter Than Wine, by Noble Mission (GB). O/B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $100,000.
3–Hill Road, 122, c, 3, Quality Road–Exotic Notion, by Lemon Drop Kid. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. ($350,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Amo Racing USA LLC; B-Lynch Bages LTD & Camas Park Stud (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
Margins: 2, HF, NK. Odds: 2.48, 9.08, 1.29.
Also Ran: Crudo, Hammerhead, Game Warrior, A Bourbon for Toby.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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