Holly’s Persuasion overcame a slow start and a rough trip to roll to a one-and-a-half length victory in a maiden special weight contest at Charles Town on Saturday, 7 November.
The two-year-old daughter of Astern, who was making her third career start, appreciated the added distance of seven furlongs, after coming up short in two four-and-a-half furlong tries earlier this fall.
After breaking a step slowly out of the starting gate, Holly’s Persuasion was settled off the pace in fourth in the early stages of the race. Beginning her rally at the seven sixteenths pole, Holly’s Persuasion encountered trouble when a tiring Stacias Ruby lugged in and bumped her quite soundly nearing the quarter pole. Holly’s Persuasion recovered quickly, though, and dug in, taking the lead at the head of the stretch before pulling clear to post the victory.
Holly’s Persuasion was bred in Kentucky by DLT Thoroughbreds LLC and Lee McMillin. Out of the unraced mare Shotgun Persuasion, Holly’s Persuasion is a half-sister to Stakes winner Silver Lode and Stakes-placed Prado U. Second dam Shot Gun Di is a full sister to Shot Gun Scott, winner of the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and a half-sister to Shot Gun Bonnie, winner of the G3 Arlington Oaks.
From his first North American crop, Astern is represented by Sail By, winner of the G2 Miss Grillo Stakes and winners Mainstay (G3-placed), Tom’s Beauty, Grael, Brandon’smylawyer, She’s a Mia and The Arcadian Way.
