Whisper Hill Farm’s Kentucky-bred Leslie’s Rose drew off to a three-length victory over champion Just F Y I to win the 87th running of the Ashland S. (G1) for 3-year-old fillies on Friday, April 5, during Keeneland’s opening day of its spring meet.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Orti Jr., Leslie’s Rose covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.85. Just F Y I, last year’s Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, finished second in her first start of the year. With the Ashland win, Leslie’s Rose earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) leaderboard. The Kentucky Oaks (G1) is slated for May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Purchased by Whisper Hill for $1.15 million at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, Leslie’s Rose is a daughter of perennial leading Into Mischief out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Wildwood Rose (IRE) bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services. She is now a winner in three of four starts and boasts earnings of $467,800.
Ashland Stakes Bounce Back for Leslie’s Rose
Third as the odds-n favorite in the Davona Sale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park in her last outing, Leslie’s Rose won the first two starts of her career. She broke her maiden at Aqueduct last year at two and won her seasonal bow in a Gulfstream Park allowance race in January.
“We didn’t lose any confidence in her,” said Todd Pletcher. “She didn’t have a great trip that day (in the Davona Dale). I think she got a good education. We weren’t down on her. She came back, she breezed beautifully, so we said, ‘Let’s just stick to the game plan.’ I’m glad we did.
“She always trained like she wants to run longer,” Pletcher added. “I think she proved that today, getting the opportunity to go two turns and finishing with good energy.”