DEL MAR, Calif. – Mrs. Astor is not invincible Friday at Del Mar. At least that’s the hope of bettors and the 10 fillies and mares trying to beat the favorite in the $100,000 CTT and TOC Stakes.
Although she has won four stakes from five starts since relocating to California, and finished second in another stakes, Mrs. Astor did not scare anyone away in the CTT and TOC. If all 11 entrants start, it will be the biggest field for the 1 3/8-mile turf race in at least 20 years.
“It is a way bigger field than I thought it would be,” said Mrs. Astor’s trainer, Jonathan Thomas.
“For the prize money, it’s actually a really competitive race.”
Well, maybe. It’s true that Mrs. Astor rarely blows away her competition. Two of her last three wins have been by a nose. But her wins keep adding up, and Mrs. Astor is the 5-2 program favorite in a race won by just one favorite the last 11 years.
Take it for what it’s worth. Based on standard handicapping, Mrs. Astor will be tough to beat despite her narrow margin of victory last out. Her rivals in the CTT and TOC are legit. Sunset Glory won this race last year; upset candidate Venganza is bred for the marathon trip; Starry Heavens has placed in all three stakes since arriving from Europe.
The field also includes stakes winners Nadette, Sun Of Hill, Sakura Blossom, and Alpha Bella. Also entered are Hopeful, Kentucky Gal, and Khinjani. None are as consistently excellent as Mrs. Astor, whose California stakes wins include the Grade 3 Red Carpet last fall at Del Mar, the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel this winter at Santa Anita, and the $100,000 Santa Barbara at Santa Anita.
“We’ve got a lot of back class and consistency behind us,” Thomas said. “But she’s going to have to show up at her best and we’re going to have to get a clean trip.”
The trip is the responsibility of Umberto Rispoli, who rode Mrs. Astor to a five-length romp two back at 1 1/2 miles and a narrow victory last out in the $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita. That race, two months ago on June 14, was at 1 1/4 miles around two turns.
“If she was going to be vulnerable, it would have been in that spot,” Thomas said. “Short field, paceless race, and backing up in trip. She’s a mile and a half, mile and three-eighths filly. She’s more of a stayer.”
Mrs. Astor has been pointed to the CTT and TOC since her win two months ago. A 5-year-old mare owned and bred by George Strawbridge, late-runner Mrs. Astor has won six races and $495,235 from 19 starts.
Sunset Glory won her comeback in June, then regressed next out. She finished eighth in the restricted Osunitas Stakes, a turf mile that was only a bridge to the CTT and TOC. Michael McCarthy trains Sunset Glory, whose rider is Kazushi Kimura.
Venganza stretches out after finishing fourth in the Osunitas. She is bred to stay, sired by Curlin and produced by Avenge, a two-time Grade 1 turf winner at 1 1/4 miles. Mirco Demuro rides Venganza for trainer Richard Mandella.
Starry Heavens has finished in the money in all three U.S. starts. Trouble is, Mrs. Astor finished in front of her in all three. Mark Glatt trains Starry Heavens, whose rider is Antonio Fresu.
Alpha Bella is a candidate to set the pace. She won a Grade 3 turf marathon in early 2024 and has faced top company in seven California starts, finishing second four times. John Sadler trains Alpha Bella, whose rider is Hector Berrios.
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