Astronaut

Astronaut earned his first graded stakes win at Del Mar on Aug. 21, 2021. He pulled off a 24-1 upset in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association, rallying wide in the stretch for a surprise victory. For his performance, Astronaut earned a spot in the starting gate for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

The 4-year-old Quality Road colt had won one of eight starts leading up to his upset win in the Del Mar Handicap but had finished second five times for owner John M. B. O'Connor and trainer John Shirreffs. He finished second in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita Park in his start prior to the Del Mar Handicap. 

In the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, Astronaut subsequently finished 12th.  Astronaut make his final start of 2021 in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 26 and finished seventh.

Is would be another nine months until Astronaut made his next start. He made his 5-year-old debut on Sept. 3, 2022, at Del Mar in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile but finished eighth that day. His next start, however, represented an improvement when he shipped east and finished third in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at the Belmont at the Big A meet on Oct. 8.

Astronaut got back into the winner's circle for the first time in more than a year on Nov. 26 when he won the Grade 2 $300,000 Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct for trainer Tom Albertrani. Astronaut ran the 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in a winning time of 2:14 and went wire-to-wire to score a three-length win.

Astronaut was bred in Kentucky by the sire Quality Road out of the mare Armada by Acatanango.