Ashado Pulls Away in Spinaway

Ashado pulled away late from Be Gentle down the stretch to win the $200,000 Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) on Friday afternoon at Saratoga by 1 1/2 lengths. The seven-furlong Spinaway, the first grade I stakes in North America for 2-year-old fillies, was run in 1:24.08.

Ashado, a daughter of Saint Ballado, also captured the Schuylerville Stakes (gr .II) at the Spa on the opening day of the meet, bookending a record-setting meet for trainer Todd Pletcher. The dark bay or brown filly is now three-for-three and has earned $235,800.

Owned by Starlight Stable and Paul Saylor, Ashado is out of the Mari's Book mare Goulash and was bred in Kentucky by Aaron U. and Marie Jones. She was a $170,000 Keeneland September sale yearling.

Ashado, the third choice in the six-horse field, broke alertly under Edgar Prado, then was taken back just a bit and settled just off the pace set by Dixie Waltz. Dixie Waltz set splits of :22.46 and :45.52 before tiring on the turn for home. Ashado was just to her outside and easily grabbed the advantage turning for home.

In early stretch, Ashado was challenged by Be Gentle and Cornelio Velasquez, but Prado kept his filly to the task. She hit the eighth pole in 1:10.64 and then pulled away in the final 100 yards to secure the victory.

The favorite in the race, Odgen Mills Phipps' Daydreaming, was pinched back slightly at the start and then was racing along the rail while behind the early leaders. She flattened out in the stretch and was a distant third. Second-choice Unbridled Beauty was fourth.

Ashado paid $8.40, $4.80, and $2.80. Be Gentle returned $8.20 and $3.30 and Daydreaming paid $2.40 to show. The 3-4 exacta paid $63.50. The 3-4-6 trifecta returned $140.

America America and Charming Humor were scratched.