In two starts since moving out west, LNJ Foxwoods' Constellation has done no wrong. A two-time stakes winner in New York for trainer Steve Asmussen, the Bellamy Road filly won her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer Nov. 12 in the City of Phoenix Stakes at Turf Paradise, then took a significant step up Dec.
In two starts since moving out west, LNJ Foxwoods' Constellation has done no wrong. A two-time stakes winner in New York for trainer Steve Asmussen, the Bellamy Road filly won her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer Nov. 12 in the City of Phoenix Stakes at Turf Paradise, then took a significant step up Dec. 26 to gamely win the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
In a stalking position behind 9-5 second choice Finley'sluckycharm through most of the seven-furlong contest, Constellation still couldn't get by her front-running rival at the sixteenth pole, but dug in on the outside to win by a half-length under jockey Flavien Prat at odds of 12-1.
"She is a really fine filly," Prat said of Constellation, who was between horses in the backstretch. "She broke well, but I couldn't take hold of her. She just wouldn't relax. When we got to the three-eighths pole, she finally relaxed and she did everything to get there for the win."
Enola Gray, wide and near the front early, came in third, another three lengths back. Favored Lightstream was never seriously involved and finished fifth.
It was the first graded win for Constellation, who finished second and third, respectively, in the 2015 Matron (Grade 2) and Spinaway (Grade 1).