Another Filly Comes Through on Turf for Bray and Paulson

Owner Allen Paulson and trainer Simon Bray aren’t lacking for talented turf fillies.

Besides promising 2-year-olds Mary Kies and Arta, they have the 3-year-old Astra, who earned her fourth win in five starts Sunday, taking the $72,700 Matiara Stakes at Hollywood Park.

On an extremely windy day in Inglewood, the daughter of Theatrical split horses in midstretch and won going away under Chris McCarron, defeating 5-2 second choice Camargo by two lengths in 1:49 3/5 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Astra, who was third behind Tout Charmant and Colorado Song in her lone defeat, had to survive a claim of foul by Garrett Gomez, the rider on fourth-place finisher Aviate, but it was dismissed by the stewards. Now a winnerin three starts at nine furlongs, Astra paid $5.40 as the 17-10 choice.

“She was very, very impressive,” Bray said. “I was a little worried at the top of the stretch because it looked like she was hemmed in, but she got out and appeared to win comfortably.

“She galloped out very well and that was encouraging. We’ll probably give her a little vacation. Our plan is the big filly races next year.”

Camargo, who also finished second in her previous start in the Possibly Perfect at Santa Anita last month, finished a head in front of Spicy Dancer, then came Aviate, pacesetter Bright Magic and Tycoon’s Dolce.

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The $500,000 Matriarch, the final event of this weekend’s $2.15-million Turf Festival at Hollywood Park, could have as many as 10 participants when it is run for the 19th time Sunday.

Owner Gary Tanaka, who won the Grade I last year with Squeak, will try for a repeat with Rose Of Zollern, a European import who will be supplemented for $20,500. The daughter of Seattle Dancer won a Group II in Germany earlier this year.

The favorite in the Matriarch could be Happyanunoit, who will be attempting to give trainer Bobby Frankel his third win in the race in the last four years. Frankel is also expected to send out Spanish Fern.

Candy Lonly, Sapphire Ring, Wannabe Grand and Cerulean Sky are the other probables while Anguilla, Lexa and Tuzla are considered possible.

Besides the Matriarch, the other Turf Festival races are the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express and $200,000 Miesque Stakes on Friday, the $200,000 Generous Stakes and $500,000 Citation Handicap, which could attract Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Silic, on Saturday and the $500,000 Early Times Hollywood Derby on Sunday.

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Racing was canceled at Golden Gate Fields after one race had been run Sunday due to unsafe track condition. The track has been hit by heavy rain in recent days. Racing is scheduled to resume on Wednesday.

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Favored Comic Strip came from far back to win the $150,000 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs. Pat Day rode the winner for trainer Neil Howard.

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Magicalmysterycat, who won the Cinderella and Landaluce stakes earlier this year at Hollywood Park, ended losing streak at four raceswith a victory in the $75,000 Valley Stream at Aqueduct as the 3-1 second choice for trainer Wayne Lukas.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

COUNTDOWN TO 8,833 / RIDING TO THE RECORD

Charting Laffit Pincay Jr. as he closes in on Bill Shoemaker’s record for victories by a jockey:

SUNDAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

Mounts: 5

Victories: 1

Overall: 8,820

Wins needed for tie: 13