Favorite has plenty of spring in her step

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. rides filly Aireofdistinction (front) past jockey Christopher Emigh and Chortle (rear) at the wire to win the Spring Fever Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. rides filly Aireofdistinction (front) past jockey Christopher Emigh and Chortle (rear) at the wire to win the Spring Fever Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

HOT SPRINGS - Favored Aireofdistinction collared Chortle on the outside in the final stride to post a nose victory in the $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older filly and mare sprinters Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Aireofdistinction represented the second of three victories on the card for jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. and trainer Steve Asmussen.

“I waited until the stretch, and she showed her class in the stretch,” Santana said.

The Spring Fever was also the meet-high fifth stakes victory for Santana, Oaklawn’s leading rider last year. Three of the victories have been for Asmussen, Oaklawn’s leading trainer the past two years.

Asmussen has won the Spring Fever a record five times.

Chortle finished 1¼ lengths ahead of Boss Barney’s Babe, who was followed, in order, by Hurricane Girl, Sittin At the Bar, Ms Anna Destiny, Soft Whisper, Beat the Blues and Mysterious Chimes.

Aireofdistinction, the 2-1 favorite in her stakes debut, paid $6.80, $4.60 and $3.40. Chortle paid $14.40 and $8.40.Boss Barney’s Babe paid $5.60.

Aireofdistinction ran 5 ½ furlongs over a fast track in 1:04.50.

Owned by Gillian S. Campbell, Aireofdistinction raised her career earnings to $176,362 after winning for the fourth time in 10 starts.

The 4-year-old daughter of Songandaprayer needed seven starts to break her maiden, but is now riding a four-race winning streak.

In the Spring Fever, Aireofdistinction dueled with Chortle through an opening quarter of :21.81 and a halfmile in :45.41.

Chortle shook clear turning for home as Aireofdistinction was passed on the outside by Sittin At the Bar.

Chortle was a little more than a length clear of Sittin At the Bar and Aireofdistinction in midstretch, but the favorite gradually wore down the front-runner under steady right-handed urging by Santana.

Aireofdistinction was saddled by Darren Fleming, who oversees Asmussen’s Oaklawn division.

Oaklawn’s series of sprint stakes for older fillies and mares continues with the $100,000 Carousel on April 6.

Sports, Pages 28 on 02/23/2014