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Sassy Image aims for big road win in Princess Rooney

Sassy Image cut it close but still prevailed in the Winning Colors last time (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow), like numerous professional sports teams, is a world-beater at home but highly vulnerable when she hits the road. However, a road win Saturday in the $350,000 Princess Rooney H. (G1) at Calder would greatly enhance her prospects for an Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter, an honor often decided by the results of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), conveniently run this year on Sassy Image's home court of Churchill Downs on November 4. The Princess Rooney is the highest-ranked of four graded stakes on Calder's Summit of Speed program, all contested at six furlongs. The others are the $350,000 Smile Sprint H. (G2) for older horses, the $200,000 Carry Back S. (G2) for three-year-olds, and the $150,000 Azalea S. (G3) for three-year-old fillies.

While much of trainer Dale Romans' attention this season has been on his Preakness S. (G1) winner Shackleford (Forestry), Sassy Image arguably represents the stable's best hope of winning a divisional championship. The four-year-old is undefeated in five career starts at Churchill Downs, including the Humana Distaff (G1) and Winning Colors S. (G3) in her last two. Continued success under the Twin Spires later this season would seem to give her an advantage in the championship race.

The Humana Distaff was a three-length triumph for Sassy Image over Hilda's Passion (Canadian Frontier), who had a massive hiccup in last Sunday's Bed o' Roses H. (G3) at odds of 1-5. The Winning Colors was a sterner test as Sassy Image just got up by a neck to deny a gallant Beat the Blues (Great Pyramid [Ire]), subsequent winner of the Saylorville S. at Prairie Meadows.

Attempting to win the Princess Rooney off a near six-month layoff is CHAMPAGNE D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro), winner last year of the Acorn S. (G1) and Test S. (G1). She was last seen running fourth in the January 16 El Encino S. (G2), her fourth consecutive unplaced finish since the Test. Of slightly more interest despite the rise in class is DERWIN'S STAR (Wildcat Heir), the 2010 Charles Town Oaks winner who recently returned a winner in a Parx Racing allowance following a layoff of more than eight months. The chestnut held her own against two relative giants -- Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) and Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) -- when 1 1/2 lengths third in the Delaware Oaks (G2) last summer.

Calder mainstays are well-represented in the Princess Rooney. Among them are MUSICAL ROMANCE (Concorde's Tune), winner of the U Can Do It H. and Ema Bovary S., and the multiple stakes-placed INDULGENCE (Macho Uno), BELLA MONETA (Max's Pal), and DON'TTALKTOME (Cactus Ridge).

Noble's Promise was a popular winner of the Aristides as an 8-5 favorite (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) Seven were entered for the Smile Sprint, won last year by eventual champion Big Drama (Montbrook). Grade 1 veteran NOBLE'S PROMISE (Cuvee) enters off a convincing one-length win in the Aristides S. (G3) at Churchill for Ken McPeek, and like Sassy Image, can enhance his championship credentials here knowing the final round will be held on the home track he likes. The Smile Sprint will be no cakewalk, though. APRIORITY (Grand Slam) has been unlucky to have fallen just short in the Carter H. (G1), Churchill Downs S. (G2) and Sunshine Millions Sprint this season, but is overdue for a first black-type success and will try to achieve that over a track he's undefeated over. Grade 2 victor THIS ONES FOR PHIL (Untuttable), also a two-time Calder winner, impressively won the May 14 Decathlon S. at Monmouth following a 14-month layoff. Last time he was a distant second in the True North H. (G2) over a muddy Belmont strip.

Not to be overlooked are GIANT RYAN (Freud), who's won four straight including the June 11 Ponche H., a course-and-distance prep, and the Bob Baffert-trained IRREFUTABLE (Unbridled's Song), whose lone finish outside the top two occurred on grass.

Baffert will have one of the favorites in the Carry Back in SMASH (Smart Strike), whose only setback in three Hollywood Park appearances was a second to eventual Affirmed H. (G3) winner Coil (Point Given) in his seasonal bow May 6. Panamanian standout INDIANO (Indian Charlie) has fared well in the U.S., running second in the Swale S. (G2) and last time taking the Unbridled S. by 4 1/2 lengths on the Summit of Speed preview card.

Others of note include the Todd Pletcher-trained CAL NATION (Distorted Humor), who's added only an allowance since his dazzling debut score at Gulfstream in February, and the stakes-winning CLOSE IT OUT (Closing Argument).

Baffert could also have the favorite in the Azalea when he sends out MAY DAY ROSE (Rockport Harbor), winner this season of the Railbird S. (G3), Santa Ysabel S. (G3) and Instant Racing S. Among her challengers is the undefeated JUST LOUISE (Five Star Day), a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Sara Louise. Just Louise has not been in action since taking the Debutante S. (G3) at Churchill more than a year ago. The top local prospect is BESO GRANDE (Mass Media), winner of the Leave Me Alone S. and French Village S. in her last two.

The $55,000 Sweettrickydancer S., for three-year-old fillies at one mile on the turf, is also a part of Calder's 12-race program.

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