Sassy C W. (Janet Napolitano)
By Mary Eddy
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Patricia’s Hope and Carolyn Wilson’s Sassy C W backed up her 2-5 post time favoritism with a prominent victory in Thursday’s $150,000 Astoria, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies on Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Larry Rivelli, the daughter of Yaupon entered from a dominant 4 1/2-furlong graduation on April 30 at Churchill Downs, where she trounced her rivals by 5 1/4 lengths with a pacesetting trip under Jareth Loveberry.
Loveberry returned to the saddle in the Astoria, where most of the field scrambled for command through the first 100 yards before Sassy C W, who stumbled at the start, claimed sovereignty on the lead and marked the opening quarter-mile in 21.92 seconds over the fast main track.
“She is a very smart filly,” Loveberry said. “Even coming into today, nothing really bothers her. Even stumbling out of the gate like that, it didn’t bother her. She recovered quickly. She is a quick filly, gathered herself pretty good after that and she is very mature.
“I was a little worried because you always want a clean break,” Loveberry continued. “No matter if you want to go to the front or come from [off the pace], you still want a clean break. The way she recovered after it, I didn’t have to ask her to go, she was just moving. So I was comfortable, I didn’t have to use her any extra with her stumbling.”
Vernon Valley tracked in second in the turn with Gena B coming under a ride in the three path as Sassy C W held a three-length lead at the stretch call and was shown a right-handed stick by Loveberry with the half-mile in 45.41. Vernon Valley gave chase while racing greenly in the lane before Gena B swept past into second, but there was no catching Sassy C W as she crossed the wire three lengths in front in a final time of 1:06.04.
Vernon Valley finished third 2 3/4 lengths behind Gena B with Varinisi and first-time starter Ticket to Ride completing the order of finish. Looks to Kill was scratched.
Rivelli noted Sassy C W benefitted from the speedy Mythical opting for the Listed Tremont against males in Race 1, which she won in pacesetting fashion in a final time of 1:03.57.
“I thought we were the horse to beat and then she broke [poorly] and stumbled,” Rivelli said. “But [Loveberry] said he didn’t really have to rush her up too much. Thankfully, [Mythical] ran against the boys, or it might have been a little different outcome as far as the final time; it was a big difference.”
Rivelli said he and his team will savor this victory for the time being.
“We’ll be selective about her spots,” Rivelli said. “Hopefully we can keep her winning, but this was a big race for her. She’s got a lot of talent, a lot of class.”
In victory, Sassy C W became the first stakes-winner for Spendthrift Farm stallion Yaupon, who was a perfect 3-for-3 at the Spa, including a win in the 2021 Grade 1 Forego.
“Right off the bat, that’s Yaupon’s first stakes horse and first stakes winner,” said Mark Toothaker, Stallion Sales Manager of Spendthrift Farm. “The bar is way up here for him because they’ve sold so well and are the talk of all the sales, so it’s great to get off to a good start with a stakes winner immediately. She broke a step slow and rushed up there and went on about her business. She’s talented and we’re thrilled to death to see her get a stakes win. They just keep going – great weanlings, yearlings and now 2-year-olds – so the expectation has been high. Hopefully this keeps happening.”
Bred in Kentucky by Harun Kahraman, Sassy C W was a $375,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the Tiznow mare Sassy Miss Sue, a full-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Tiz Miss Sue and a half-sister to dual stakes-winner Bulletin. Sassy C W banked $82,500 in victory while returning $2.90 on a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Friday at Saratoga Race Course for Day Three of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, featuring four Grade 1 events in the $750,000 New York presented by Rivers Casino [Race 12], the $500,000 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford [Race 9], the $500,000 DK Horse Acorn [Race 11], and the $500,000 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing [Race 13]; along with the Grade 2, $300,000 Bed o’ Roses in Race 6; and the Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup in Race 10. First post on the 14-race card is 11:40 a.m. Eastern with gates opening at 10 a.m.
