Sassy Image, Thiskyhasnolimit will try and sweep Churchill
stakes
SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) and Cathy and THISKYHASNOLIMIT (Sky Mesa), winners
of the Pocahontas S. (G3) and Iroquois S. (G3), respectively, at Churchill
Downs, figure to make return trips in stakes company on the Louisville,
Kentucky, track’s closing-day Stars of Tomorrow II card on November 28.
“Everything is good here and I am looking forward to running her closing day
in the Golden Rod (S. [G2]),” trainer Dale Romans said of Sassy Image, who
scored by two lengths over Decelerator (Dehere).
Sassy Image will be attempting to become the sixth filly to sweep the
Poncahontas and Golden Rod, a feat most recently accomplished by Pure Clan (Pure
Prize) in 2007. Others to do it are French Park (2005), At the Half (1993),
Flippers (1983) and Weekend Surprise (1982). The latter two won divisions of the
Pocahontas.
Romans, who leaves Wednesday for Santa Anita to saddle Tapitsfly (Tapit) in
the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, has another runner aiming for closing
day in ROMANS REWARD (Kitten’s Joy), who broke his maiden Sunday over 1 1/16
miles on the turf. The Grand Canyon, an overnight stake at the same distance on
the Matt Winn turf course, is the next objective for Romans Reward.
Steve Asmussen, trainer of Thiskyhasnolimit, said after Sunday’s victory that
the colt would be pointed to the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on
closing day.
Four juveniles have swept the Iroquois and the Kentucky Jockey Club with the
Asmussen-trained Tiz Wonderful being the most recent in 2006. Others to do it
are The Cliff’s Edge (2003), Exploit (1998) and Ide (1995).
One of the grittier efforts on the Stars of Tomorrow I card was turned in by
DRYFLY (Jump Start), an allowance winner going seven furlongs under Calvin
Borel.
Dryfly assumed early command but was collared at the head of the stretch by
the undefeated Great Attack (Greatness), who put a head in front at the eighth
pole. Dryfly dug back in and had enough to hold off Flatter Than Me (Flatter),
runner-up in the Bashford Manor S. (G3), by 1 1/2 lengths and completed the
distance in 1:23 2/5.
“He broke a little flat-footed and I was surprised to see him on the lead. I
thought he would be laying third,” said trainer Lynn Whiting, who saddled Lil E.
Tee to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby (G1). “That horse that came to him of Merrill
Scherer’s (Flatter Than Me) can run a little bit and I thought he had the
momentum, but I think my horse will keep on running.”
Dryfly raced as a first-time gelding on Sunday. Whiting said Dryfly was
gelded after his second race because of an undescended testicle.
A winner of two of three starts, Dryfly is done for the year according to
Whiting.
“He needs a little break and I am going to keep him in light training,
jogging and maybe galloping every third day,” Whiting said. “I am looking at the
Smarty Jones S. on January 18 at Oaklawn Park for him. They have a good series
for three-year-olds there with the Smarty Jones, the Southwest S. (G3), the
Rebel S. (G2) and the Arkansas Derby (G2).
“If you want to make a run at the marbles, you’ve got to have the horse.”
Dryfly races for Charles Cella, the owner of Oaklawn Park.