Justify’s Aspen Grove Shocks The Flame Of Tara

[Wandering Eyes]

Craig Bernick's twice-raced maiden Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify–Data Dependent, by More Than Ready) went postward as an unconsidered 66-1 outsider for Saturday's G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF S. at the Curragh and pounced late in the one-mile former Flame Of Tara S. to secure a first win of any kind. The January-foaled bay debuted with a fifth over six furlongs at the Co. Kildare venue in May, but slipped to 12th when upped to seven at the same track in June last time. The eventual winner settled off the pace in rear through halfway. Coming under pressure to close approaching the quarter-mile marker, she quickened smartly to launch her challenge out wide with 100 yards remaining and kept on in impressive fashion from there to win by 1 1/4 lengths going away from Shelton (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Aspen Grove, the third pattern-race winner for her first-crop sire (by Scat Daddy), is the first foal out of GIII Jimmy Durante S. runner-up Data Dependant (More Than Ready), herself kin to G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) and Listed Denford S. victor Victory Dance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Her second dam Daneleta (Danehill), who ran third in the G3 Railway S., is the dam of G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway). Aspen Grove's third dam is Listed Athasi S. and Listed Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial S. victrix Zavaleta (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), herself kin to G1 Gran Criterium hero Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who is also the dam of Daneleta's G3 Noblesse S.-winning full-sister Danelissima (Ire). Data Dependant has also produced a yearling colt by No Nay Never and a weanling full-brother to Aspen Grove.

The post Justify’s Aspen Grove Shocks The Flame Of Tara appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article