Shadwell Farm's 4-year-old homebred filly Ausus snapped a four-race losing streak and earned her first black-type victory when she charged to the front in the stretch and pulled away to a 2 1/4-length advantage in the July 13 Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Arlington Park (VIDEO).
Trained by Danny Peitz, Ausus came into the $200,000 Modesty as an outsider at odds of 8-1. The daughter of Invasor entered the race off a fourth behind Imposing Grace in the May 25 Arlington Matron (gr. III), before which she placed fourth in the April 13 Jenny Wiley (gr. IT) at Keeneland.
Ausus started her 4-year-old campaign by placing in two stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the Jan. 26 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Handicap on turf and the Feb. 23 Bayou Handicap on dirt.
Contested on firm turf, fractions for the Modesty were 23:81, 48:38, 1:12.12, and 1:36.25. La Tia, the 2-1 favorite in the field of eight, and Artemus Kitten were up front early as Ausus rated inside, tracking the leaders. The latter filly shifted three-wide into the lane and with a late, long stride prevailed handily over Artemus Kitten at the wire.
Ausus completed the 1 3/16-mile turf contest in 1:53.94.
Ausus paid $18, $8.20, and $4.80. The $116,400 winner's share boosted the filly's career bankroll to $258,983.
"Great trip. Good horse today," jockey James Graham said of the filly, who was bred in Kentucky and is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare El Raabi. "She finished really well. Everything went according to plan."
"We always thought she was a little better on the grass," Peitz added. We're looking to run her further. We'd love to go 1 3/8 miles with her. We think she can run all day. (She had a) little bit of a rough start last time (in the Arlington Matron). She tried to break through the gate before that race. I don't think she finished quite as well as we hoped she would that day, but she redeemed herself today. We finally won a stakes with her and now (it's on to) the (Aug. 17) Beverly D (gr. IT)."
Trained by Michael Maker, Artemus Kitten returned $8.60 to place and $4.20 to show. Rider Julien Leparoux said, "She tried very hard, she ran good."
La Tia returned $3 to show for trainer Armando De la cerda and rider Constantino Roman.
Of his filly's trip Roman offered, "Too much pressure for the horse. We were going nice but there was a little too much pressure. She needed a little more space."
The top three finishers in the Modesty all earned their way into the $750,000 Beverly D. and will have their entry and starting fees waived should their connections elect to run back in that August 17 event.
