2015 CALIFORNIA BROODMARE OF THE YEAR ASHLEY’S FOLLY CONTINUES TO THROW WINNERS
21-year-old Ashley’s Folly continued her success as a broodmare on Sunday afternoon when her son, 3-year-old gelding Ashley’s Valentine, won a five-and-a-half-furlong, California-bred maiden special weight at Golden Gate for owner/breeder Bran Jam Stables and Ciaglia Racing LLC. The son of Vronsky, off at odds of 5-1, stalked the pace on the rail before threading his way through between horses in upper stretch and out finishing 2-1 favorite Gallant Guy and early pacesetter Exceed Speed Limit in the final furlong. Evin Roman was aboard for the winning ride.
“He is a very nice horse,” said Roman. “He was inside of other horses the whole way and he responded well when I asked him to move between horses. I really like him, and I think he will get better.”
Andy Mathis, who trains Ashley’s Valentine, noticed early on that his 3-year-old gelding had ability.
Good genes have certainly played a part, right?
“With young horses, I like to see them overcome adversity and I thought [Ashley’s Valentine] did that,” said Mathis. “I was impressed with how he responded between horses [in the stretch.] He finished well. Before the race, I wasn’t sure if five and a half furlongs was a little too short [of a distance] for him. I think he’ll enjoy added ground.”
Younger horses showing talent are types of horses that are, for me, really exciting to watch and train,” continued Mathis. “[Ashley’s Valentine] has a nice pedigree and showed us in the mornings he had some talent. Hopefully he can continue to blossom.”
Ashley’s Folly, who won the California Broodmare of the Year Award in 2015, has now produced six winning babies from seven foals to race. Her most notable foal, Ashleyluvssugar, was a $1.4 million earner who won a quintet of Grade 2 route races on turf while in the barn of Southern California conditioner Peter Eurton. Another sibling to Ashley’s Valentine, Ashley’s Sassy, was a 3-time stakes placed filly with career earnings of $209,610. In 2019, Ashley’s Folly foaled a grey/roan filly named Ashley’s Rainbow. She is by Grade I-winning turf router Tom’s Tribute and may hit the track later this year.
WELL-REGARDED QUEEN MOLOTOV IMPRESSES IN CAREER DEBUT
California-bred 3-year-old filly Queen Molotov was highly thought of heading into last Saturday’s second race. Good news: she did not disappoint.
Leaving the gate at low odds of 3-5, the daughter of Kentucky stallion Mizzen Mast broke alertly, set the pace for the first half-mile, and powered home in the final furlong and a half as a good filly would. The margin of victory was six lengths.
“She worked in the mornings like a nice filly,” said Queen Molotov’s trainer, Jamey Thomas. “She never worked super-fast, but she always did it really well. We were excited to get her started. I think she’ll really enjoy going longer.”
Irving Orozco rode Queen Molotov, who was purchased for $52,000 by owners Jason Hall, Rob Smolich and Stewball Stable at the OBS March “2-year-olds In Training” sale last year.
“I really appreciate Jamey [Thomas] and the owners trusting me with this filly,” said Orozco. “Jamey and his team did a good job getting her ready. She’s a nicely built filly. Turning for home she was moving pretty effortlessly. She’s got a nice long, athletic stride and she’s smart; everything I asked her to do, she did it very professionally. I definitely think she can run farther.”
Thomas noted that the one-mile Campanile Stakes on Sunday, April 25 is a reasonable long-term goal for Queen Molotov, who is out of the stakes placed Speightstown mare Starship Duchess.
“She’s a California-bred so there’s plenty of opportunities to run in some nice races,” said Thomas.
While in discussion, Thomas also noted that El Camino Real Derby fourth place finisher It’s My House has been transferred to the barn of Bob Hess Jr. It’s My House came out of the aforementioned ‘Derby in great shape, according to Thomas.
“He’s a Florida-bred, so there are races in Florida that he is eligible for and Bob has a string over there,” said Thomas. “We were thrilled with his effort [in the El Camino Real Derby.] I was really excited during the race because it looked like he had a chance to win it. We were wheeling him back in two weeks off a maiden, sprint win and the [El Camino Real Derby] wasn’t just a mile or a mile and a sixteenth; it was a mile and an eighth. He ran a big race and I think he’ll be a pretty good horse down the line.”
FINISH LINES: Kyle Frey and Evin Roman are tied atop the jockey standings with 33 wins apiece. Catalino Martinez is not far behind in third with 26 victories…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong holds a 19-15 lead over Steve Specht...Golden Gate Fields welcomes apprentice jockey Santos Rivera back to the Bay Area. Rivera finished second at the Golden Gate Fields Summer and Fall meets last year and returns after stints at Santa Anita and The Fair Grounds…El Camino Real Derby third-place finisher Govenor’s Party returns to the races in a much tougher spot, the Grade 2 $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Mario Gutierrez rides for owner/trainer Dan Franko...The first foal out of multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Fast and Foxy is a 2-year-old this year. Named Fox Proof, the chestnut colt is by Grade I winning sprinter Idiot Proof...Happy birthday to Evin Roman, trainer Frank Lucarelli and Golden Gate Fields TV producer Frank Matthews, all who celebrate birthday’s this week…The Golden Pick Six jackpot pool has a carryover of $65,332 heading into Thursday’s program…Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday.