Pearl Earring broke her maiden in style with a determined nose victory over Chopin Drive in a maiden special weight contest at Fair Grounds Race Course Nov. 28.
The two-year-old filly by Astern was making just her third start and her first on a dirt course, after the race was taken off the turf earlier in the day. The win over the main track proved that Pearl Earring could manage the surface switch, and she certainly appears to have a future on both.
The Godolphin homebred, who was reluctant to load into the starting gate, broke alertly and settled off the pace in fourth, content to stalk Abuela’s Humor and Delightful Moment through the early part of the race. Pearl Earring began her bid on the far turn and ranged up to engage leader Chopin Drive at the top of the stretch. The pair battled through the final furlong, with Pearl Earring prevailing by a nose on the wire.
Pearl Earring was bred in Kentucky and is out of Speckled, a Stakes-winning daughter of Street Cry. Pearl Earring is a half-sister to the talented colt, Pixelate (City Zip), winner of the G2 Del Mar Derby and G3 WinStar Mint Million. Speckled’s dam, Painted Lady, has also produced Stakes winners Skylighter (G2 Indiana Oaks, G2 Allaire DuPont Distaff) and Cave Hill (Rushaway Stakes), and multiple Stakes-placed Brushed Gold.
From his first North American crop, Astern is also 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 (now Stakes-placed) and The Arcadian Way.
Astern will stand the 2022 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $10,000, stands and nurses.
