Del Mar: Mrs. Astor tops troubled favorite in Red Carpet

Mrs. Astor proved best by a length Sunday in the 59th running of the Grade 3 Red Carpet Stakes at Del Mar, giving jockey Vincent Cheminaud and trainer Jonathan Thomas their first stakes victories at the shore oval.

The feature drew seven fillies and mares for a 1 3/8-mile testing on the turf course, and Mrs. Astor tracked nicely through the first mile then made her move nearing the stretch and held race favorite Forever After All safe in the lane.

Forever After All, the 7-10 betting favorite trained by Brendan Walsh, encountered bad luck on the far turn and had to check hard and fall back under Juan Hernandez. The maneuver cost her several lengths and may have cost her the victory.

“She was able to find herself a little closer because there was a lack of pace,” Thomas said. “I thought he (jockey Vincent Cheminaud) did a good job of sneaking and gaining ground and putting himself in a good stalking spot down the backside. You definitely can’t leave yourself too much to do. I think we got a little lucky with Brendan’s (Walsh) horse getting into a little bit of trouble. But he saw that and kicked on, which I think was the right thing to do. I thought Vincent gave her a fantastic ride.”

Finishing third, three and a half lengths farther back, was Cayton Park Stud’s Marksman Queen.

Final time for the 11 furlongs was 2:16.82. Mrs. Astor returned $11.60 for each $2 invested in her.

The winner, a 4-year-old daughter of Lookin At Lucky bred by her owner, picked up a check for $60,000 for her efforts to increase her bankroll to $295,235. It was her third tally in her 15th start and her first stakes win.