Terra Promessa just holds in Fantasy
April 10th, 2016
Cosmic Evolution, Florida Bird and Ready to Confess duked it out through the opening quarter in :23.57, before the latter took command in time to post a half-mile in :46.96 and six furlongs in 1:12.03. Terra Promessa was very rank during this time, and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. kept the Steve Asmussen trainee out of trouble on the outside.
The Culin filly continued tugging on Santana and was finally allowed to run rounding the final turn. Terra Promessa easily grabbed command and appeared a clear winner with a two-length advantage in the lane. However, Taxable was closing fast and pushed Terra Promessa to dig in as both fillies drifted around the track.
Terra Promessa did hold in the end, finishing 1 1/16 miles over Oaklawn’s fast main track in 1:45.06. She paid $2.80 and took home 100 points toward a starting berth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Taxable was easily best of the rest, 5 3/4 lengths clear of Ready to Confess in second to be awarded 40 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Ready to Confess earned 20 points and Cosmic Evolution garnered 10 points for finishing another 4 3/4 lengths back in fourth.
Terra Promessa began her Kentucky Oaks journey last out in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn, which she captured by 6 1/2 lengths. Prior to that the Kentucky-bred bay took an allowance in her sophomore bow at the Arkansas venue by nine lengths, and also shows a maiden victory at Churchill Downs from last November. Now 5-4-0-1 in her career, she more than doubled her lifetime earnings to $440,600 with the Fantasy winner’s share.
Terra Promessa is out of the multiple stakes-winning Yes It’s True mare Missile Bay, making her a half-sister to stakes-placed Mio Me.
Terra Promessa photo courtesy of Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography
FANTASY QUOTES
Steve Asmussen, trainer Terra Promessa & Taxable, winner & second: “Obviously very proud of both of the fillies. Running them against each other here, I just felt that they had both run so well here over the race track their last start. We're definitely trying to get to the (Kentucky) Oaks with both fillies. I thought this was the best opportunity for them.”
Ricardo Santana Jr., jockey Terra Promessa, winner: “That's a really, really nice filly. She's a hard trier. Every race, she's doing better and better and better. I really like my filly for the Oaks. I think we have a really good chance in that race.
“I know my filly and I know she has a lot of fight in her. Every time she runs, she does better, better and better. She was pretty sharp today and I know if she ever felt another filly alongside her, she would fight back and she showed that today. She was going to let the other filly get by her. She’s going to be tough for the Oaks. I’m excited.”
Joe Rocco Jr., jockey Taxable (picked up mount late after Corey Nakatani took off mounts), second: “My filly ran really well. We sat off the favorite, Steve’s other horse, and took our time, picked our way through the field. When I called on her, she gave me a nice run and I thought we were going to get by the other filly. She got a little tired late, she was switching leads down the stretch. I hope I get to ride her back because she’s a nice filly.”
Luis Quinonez, jockey Ready to Confess, third: “We ran third, she ran really well. We went a little fast early, but was able to relax up front once she was by herself and that helped her with her finish today. We just got outrun today.”
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