Gone Astray runners strike twice in West Virginia

Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort is the scene of the latest pair of winners by Gone Astray, Political Astray breaking her maiden and Hard Astray making it two victories in a row.

POLITICAL ASTRAY – The 4-year-old filly bred by Long Trail Stables had started seven times at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs with just one third to show for her efforts. The trip north proved to be the right tonic as Henderson Gonzalez took her virtually wire-to-wire in a $16,500 maiden special at five furlongs after the race was taken off the grass. After battling for the early lead and posting fractions of :22.71 and :46.53, Political Astray opened up by four lengths in mid-stretch and widened it to seven at the wire. She was clocked in :59.23, paid $7.40, and earned a check for $9,520 while becoming Gone Astray’s 22nd winner of 2023.

HARD ASTRAY – Yuri Yaranga guided the 6-year-old gelding to a wire-to-wire score by three-quarters of a length, getting a mile in 1:40.78. It was Hard Astray’s second straight score and raised his record to 8-2-1 in 27 starts, with earnings of $57,552. In both of his last two victories he received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 85.