Jerry Romans’ SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) concluded her two-year-old season on
After breaking her maiden by 5 3/4 lengths under the Twin Spires in June, the
“This is so exciting to win the two top graded stakes races for two-year-old
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The chestnut settled off the pace in fourth beneath Robby Albarado as Vivid
Colors (Roman Ruler) flashed early speed in the Golden Rod, establishing early
splits in :23 1/5 and :47 1/5. The pacesetter came under serious pressure early
on the far turn from Decelerator (Dehere), who edged clear to a head advantage
upon reaching the three-quarters mark in 1:12 3/5, and Sassy Image launched her
rally four wide on the final bend. She collared Decelerator in midstretch,
passing the sixteenth pole with a half-length lead in 1:37 4/5, and poured it on
in deep stretch.
“The further they go, the better she’s going to get,” her trainer commented.
“We always thought that and she’s proven it the last two races. I think she just
improves.”
“The filly (Sassy Image) is great,” Albarado exclaimed. “She is a
long-striding filly that will really improve with the longer races. This is just
the type you look for next year in the big races. Dale did such a great job
getting this one ready. You have to give him all the credit for this one.”
Off as the 6-5 favorite, Sassy Image paid $4.60, $2.80 and $2.20 after
stopping the teletimer in 1:44 2/5 over the fast track. Decelerator, who was
overlooked as the 5-1 fourth choice following a second in the Pocahontas,
returned $4.20 and $2.80. Upperline (Maria’s Mon), the 5-2 second favorite among six
fillies, wound up a non-threatening third, another 7 1/4 lengths back of the
runner-up, and yielded $2.80. Vivid Colors, All Due Respect (Value Plus) and
Canadian Storm (Stormy Atlantic) came next under the wire, and Quiet Temper
(Quiet American) was scratched. The exotics totaled $17.80 (exacta), $55.40
(trifecta) and $110.20 (1-5-3-4 superfecta).
Sassy Image needed two starts to clear maiden conditions and proceeded to run
second in the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack S. (G2) and fourth in the seven-furlong
Spinaway S. (G1) at Saratoga. She traveled back to Kentucky and tried the
Polytrack at Keeneland in the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades S. (G1), but never appeared
comfortable and wound up eighth. After flourishing in her last two starts at
Churchill, her ledger now reads 7-3-1-1, $247,684.
Bred in Kentucky by J C Davis Farm Inc., Sassy Image was purchased for
$42,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and is out of Ideal Image (Hennessy),
who has since produced a yearling colt by Roman Ruler and a weanling filly by
Thunder Gulch. Ideal Image is herself a half-sister to last year’s John Henry S.
winner Dynaman (Dynaformer) and 1999 St. Leger S. (Eng-G1) third Adair
(Theatrical [Ire]).
Sassy Image’s third dam is 1981 Oak Leaf S. (G1) queen Header Card (Quack).
Others of note in the family include English Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1)
runner-up and Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) third Bellotto (Mr. Prospector) as well as
multiple Grade 2-winning sire Intidab (Phone Trick), Grade 2-placed stakes
victor and sire Repriced (Roberto), and Grade 2 queens Top Rung (Seattle Slew)
and Gray Cashmere (Relaunch).