Terra Promessa strolls home in Allaire DuPont Distaff

Stonestreet Stables’ homebred Terra Promessa, second behind champion filly Stellar Wind last time out, became a graded-stakes winner for the fourth time in her career with a front-running 7 ½-length victory in Friday’s $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3) at historic Pimlico Race Course.

The 24th running of the 1 1/8-mile Allaire DuPont for fillies and mares 3 and older kicked off a spectacular 14-race Black-Eyed Susan Day program featuring seven stakes, four graded, worth $1.15 million in purses that served as a fitting prelude to Saturday’s 142nd Preakness Stakes (G1).

Jockey Jose Ortiz settled the even-money favorite ($4.20) on the lead through fractions of 23.80 seconds, 47.13 and 1:10.91 with Mo’ Green and Carrumba in closest pursuit. Terra Promessa expanded her lead rounding the far turn and pulled clear down the stretch to hit the wire in 1:49.12 over a fast main track.

Carrumba, the 5-2 second choice in a field of seven, got by Mo’ Green late for second, with Power of Snunner fourth.

It was the second career DuPont victory for trainer Steve Asmussen, who won with Rolling Sea in 2007. Terra Promessa, second in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 14, now has seven wins – four in Grade 3 company – from 12 lifetime starts.

Winning Trainer Steve Asmussen (Terra Promessa): “She’s a wonderful filly and being by Curlin it makes it special. Jose rode her twice previously and both were wins. He knows the filly. Obviously, she’s better now than she’s ever been. Her last race against Stellar Wind was her fastest. For her to respond like this after such a demanding race speaks volumes to her personality and durability.”

Winning Jockey Jose Ortiz (Terra Promessa): “I was more than happy to be in front early. I didn’t think anybody was going to go with her. I asked her to run about the 3/8ths pole and I just showed her the whip in the stretch. She’s really nice.”

Robbie Medina, assistant to trainer Shug McGaughey (Carrumba, 2nd): “The winner was tough. The track is very speedy today. Our filly ran good.”

Jockey Javier Castellano (Carrumba, 2nd): “The winner did it very impressive. I tried to go after and put the pressure on a little bit. When I got closer, [the winner] re-upped again and took off. I couldn’t keep up. I secured my position as second-best today, and I’m proud the way she did it.”

Trainer John Servis (Mo’ Green,3rd): “I thought she ran okay, she just got tired. I was worried about the race when I looked at it because it had no speed and then Terra Promessa got an easy lead.”