Zanim R. Meahjohn’s Rusty Slipper strode away to a comfortable 1 1/4-length
win in Saturday’s Grade 3, $109,000
Violet
at Monmouth Park, notching her first graded victory for trainer Graham Motion.
Alex Cintron guided the regally-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid.
A close fourth when returning from a 13-month layoff in the June 21
Eatontown, the four-year-old filly moved forward in her second start of the
season. She was away alertly at the start of the about 1 1/8-mile turf test,
pressing pacesetter Why Katherine in second through opening splits of :24 4/5,
:49 2/5 and 1:13 3/5.
Rusty Slipper advanced to challenge nearing the completion of the far turn
and overhauled Why Katherine with about a furlong remaining, kicking clear in
deep stretch. The dark bay easily held sway to the wire, stopping the teletimer
in 1:49 on the good turf.
Overlooked at 13-1, Rusty Slipper rewarded her backers with a $29.20 payout.
Overheard, the 8-5 favorite among 10 fillies and mares, rallied belatedly for
second while never a threat to the winner, a neck better than the 17-1
Fasnacloich in third. Next came Why Katherine, Starstruck, Silsita, Scampering,
Lady Aspen, Triple Arch and Primed for Passion.
Green Wave Girl, Irish Mission, Nellie Cashman, She’s Not Lazy and the
main-track only Brenda’s Way were all withdrawn.
Rusty Slipper captured her first two career outings on the Tampa Bay Downs’
turf over the winter of 2012-13 and finished third when making her stakes bow in
the Florida Oaks. She was eased from her next start, the Appalachian at
Keeneland, and raced only once more at three, winning the Little Silver at
Monmouth in May 2013.
She’s now earned $128,014 from a 7-4-0-0 record.
Bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC, Rusty Slipper is out of the
multiple stakes-placed With Approval mare Classic Approval, the dam of multiple
Grade 2 hero Gulch Approval and stakes victor Approval Rating. The broodmare
also produced Moyne Abbey, the dam of Grade 1 winner Wicked Strong, who finished
a nose second in the Travers on Saturday.
Rusty Slipper’s second maternal dam, multiple Grade 3 heroine Classic Value,
produced a pair of graded stakes winners, including Grade 2 queen Class Kris,
the dam of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire and sire Student Council. There
are a number of other stakes conquerors in this immediate female family.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com