Shimmering Aspen becomes Malibu Moon’s 100th lifetime stakes winner
June 18, 2017
Shimmering Aspen rolled to a 5 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Alma North S. a Laurel Park to give her sire Malibu Moon his 100th lifetime stakes winner…
Malibu Moon, currently ranked sixth on the 2017 General Sire list, is represented this year by the likes of Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Gormley, Kona Gold S. (G2) winner Ransom the Moon, and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Farrell.
Coming off her only off-the-board finish in the two-turn Black Eyed Susan S. (G2), Shimmering Aspen was back to one turn in the seven-furlong Alma North. The gray filly came out of the gate quick and locked into a pace duel with Crabcakes. With three furlongs left, Shimmering Aspen began to edge clear.
At the top of the lane, jockey Steve Hamilton was looking back for the competition, but none presented itself, and Shimmering Aspen drew off for the easy win in 1:23.12 on the sealed track labeled “good”.
“(Trainer Rodney) Jenkins and I talked it over a little bit in the paddock and we kind of knew people were going to be gunning for us a little bit. We didn’t want to change her style or tactics,” Hamilton said. “I didn’t rush her off her feet. She put us in the race early and basically I was kind of trying to slow her down and keep something to finish with, and it all worked out.”
Shimmering Aspen is 4-0-1 in her six outings and has now banked $121,790 for Hillwood Stable LLC.
The winner is the first foal out of four-time stakes winner Aspenglow and was a $200,000 purchase out of the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic October Yearling sale.