Heather Stark’s Sky Mom stopped knocking on the door in search of her first graded stakes win Saturday as she collared front-runner Dreaming of Liz in the stretch and edged clear to win the $100,000 Arlington Oaks (G3) at Arlington Park.

Sky Mom came into the Oaks after finishing second, one length behind Storm Mesa in the Iowa Oaks (G3) at Prairie Meadows Racetrack. In her previous graded stakes attempt last October in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, she was third, 2 1/4 lengths behind winner Pure Clan.

Trainer Steve Asmussen tabbed jockey Ramsey Zimmerman for his first time aboard the three-year-old Maria’s Mon filly, who was making her first start at Arlington Park, and the new combination paid dividends.

With Dreaming of Liz setting the pace in the 1 1/8-mile contest on Arlington’s synthetic Polytrack surface, Zimmerman settled Sky Mom into fifth place in the seven-horse field and maintained his position until the field came to the stretch. Swinging wide on the turn, Sky Mom came up to challenge Dreaming of Liz, who dug in gamely before Sky Mom was finally able to pull clear for a one-length victory in 1:52.92 on a fast track.

“[Dreaming of Liz] came back a little bit but my horse had enough to hang on,” Zimmerman said. “I’m really happy with her. She relaxed and had a big kick.”

Apple Martini finished another 2 3/4 lengths back in third.

Sky Mom’s graded stakes triumph was her fourth stakes victory and brought her record to six wins from 15 starts and earnings of $452,891. She is out of the winning Sky Classic mare Swiftly Classic.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)