Ascendancy Dominant Winner of She’s a Tiger Stakes
It was a third straight victory and first stakes win for Classic Empire’s Ascendancy (4f Classic Empire x Tensas Punch, by War Front) on Saturday when the filly won the She’s A Tiger Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths.
Navigating the 1 1/16 miles on dirt at Pleasanton, Ascendancy was early last on as two horses opened multiple lengths on the field before she moved through the field down the backstretch. As they raced into the far turn, Ascendancy quickly made her move to the front and had the lead by the time they turned into the stretch.
Jockey Alexander Chavez asked her to keep extending her lead as they raced toward the wire and Ascendancy was happy to, winning by 3 ¼ lengths with the third placed runner six lengths behind.
It was the sixth win and 12th top three finish for the O.J. Jauregui trainee. The victory took her to $169,440 in earnings for owners Jauregui Racing Stables, Dan Barrett, David Crossley, David Foran, Daniel Preiss, Angel Valadez, and Graham Witherall.
Bred by Hunter Valley Farm, Ascendancy is the second stakes performer out of the stakes winning Tensas Punch after the stakes placed Dharmaster. That mare is a half-sister to multiple Grade II winner and Grade I placed United and Grade III winner Harlan Punch. They are out of a half-sister to the stakes winning dam of Grade I winner Liaison.
Ascendancy is the nineth stakes winner for Classic Empire, who has also sired 15 stakes performers with the group led by Grade I winner Angel of Empire.