Closing Act Stays Perfect in Astoria Stakes

Douglas Scharbauer-homebred Closing Act (2f Munnings x Evening Show, by Master Command) took her record to a perfect two-from-two on Sunday with a win in the Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park.

Coming into the race a month after her debut victory, Closing Act stretched out to 5 ½ furlongs as she searched for her first blacktype. The filly brushed with another runner just out of the gate before settling a few lengths off the leader in a battle for third.

Racing a few paths off the rail, Closing Act used that to her advantage as she circled the field around the turn and was sitting just behind the leader at the top of the stretch.

She took the lead soon after and in the final furlong started pulling away to win by 3 ¼ lengths with her ears pricked.

“She made a few mistakes first time out and we told Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] that we thought she’d be more forwardly placed and more professional, and she was,” assistant trainer Scott Blasi said. “She got a lot out of her first race. Super proud of her today. She’s really gone through a growth spurt this month and she’s filling out and looks beautiful."

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Closing Act is out of the stakes placed Evening Show.

That mare has produced four winners from five to race and is one of two stakes performers out of her dam alongside stakes winner Impulsive. The family gets even deeper under her third dam with 22 stakes performers named under that mare.

Munnings is now the sire of 23 career juvenile stakes winners and 45 juvenile stakes with at least one juvenile stakes winner coming in each of his 10 crops of racing age with the group led by Grade I winners Jack Christopher and Eda.