Frankel's Asbury Park scores in the Gr.2 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes

Frankel three-year-old Asbury Park produced a big kick down the straight to roll home and take his first Graded win in the Gr.2 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at the Big A on Saturday (4th October).

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 6th October 2025:

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' after he broke his maiden on 6th June at Satatoga over eight and a half furlongs, Asbury Park was unplaced on his next start course and distance on 18th July. The Chad Brown trainee was last seen running third in the Listed Saranac Stakes at Saratoga on 1st September Sept. 1.

Asbury Park went off as the 2-1 second choice on the tote here behind fellow 'Rising Star' and stablemate Hill Road. The colt settled towards the rear of the field into the first turn, as Crudo attempted to run them off their feet. By the top of the lane though, the dark bay was ready to gun his engine and that is exactly what put him in the thick of the action past the eighth pole. His nice turn of foot won the day over Noble Confessor, which gave St. Elias the Exacta. Hill Road ended up third.

"It was a really fairly run race," said trainer Chad Brown. "The pace was honest enough and he [Manny Franco, aboard Asbury Park] - after leaving with good intent to get the pace going - was able to guide him back towards the rear and towards the fence and covered up. That's where he wants to be. He really worked out a good trip from there. That's a couple nice stakes wins today with Manny--he's done a great job for us."

Asbury Park's dam was repurchased for 12,000gns at the 2008 Tattersalls December Foal sale, but found success at the races before being acquired to breed for St. Elias. A half-sister to Gr.I Shoemaker Mile hero Talco, Limonar is the dam of English stakes winner Mokarris. Covered by Frankel's full-brother Noble Mission in 2015, the result was top stayer Spanish Mission, who among his many accomplishments took the 2019 Jockey Club Derby Invitational at Belmont and was third in the 2021 Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup. Limonar's third black-type winner is Dude N Colorado, who was also placed at the Grade 3 level.