DEL MAR, Calif. – A filly who surprised almost everyone and a colt who surprised no one are key entrants in a pair of $175,000 stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Friday at Del Mar.
Too Sassy paid $52.20 winning a Cal-bred stakes last out, but she will not sneak up on bettors Friday. Nearly two months after a decisive victory in the Generous Portion Stakes, Too Sassy returns to Del Mar as a leading contender in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies, race 3.
Thirsty Rebel, a favored debut winner and runner-up in a stakes race before he was unplaced on turf, returns to Del Mar as the horse to beat in the Golden State Juvenile, race 5. Both divisions of the Golden State Juvenile are seven furlongs.
Sam Scolamieri, co-breeder and trainer of Too Sassy, suspected he had a good one when he saw the daughter of Om as a yearling. Too Sassy was an auction prospect, but one look from Scolamieri was all it took for him to say, essentially, hold on.
“She was an outstanding looking yearling,” Scolamieri said. “When I saw her, I said we’re not going to sell. We’re running this one.”
Too Sassy finished third in her debut, wired turf maidens, then returned to dirt at Del Mar and won the Generous Portion at 25-1. Scolamieri was not sure if his filly would stack up in the Generous Portion, which included Cal-breds sired by Kentucky stallions.
“Mohaven (by Yaupon) was in there, Liberation (by Omaha Beach) was in there. Those aren’t normal Cal-breds,” Scolamieri said. Too Sassy “can handle most any Cal-bred, but when you’re talking about these Kentucky horses, it’s a different ball game.”
It wasn’t even close. Too Sassy won the 5 1/2-furlong Generous Portion by more than three lengths and stretches to seven furlongs Friday. Familiar rivals include Mohaven and Liberation, two-three behind Too Sassy in the Generous Portion.
The seven-furlong distance on Friday is fine, according to Scolamieri, who looks forward to running her long.
“She doesn’t look anything like a sprinter,” he said. “She’s tall, with a long back. She doesn’t have that big hind end like so many sprinters have.”
What she has is natural ability, and Too Sassy will be tough to beat if she reproduces her Generous Portion victory. Umberto Rispoli rides her back.
Mohaven is making her first start since finishing second in the Generous Portion. She is trained by John Sadler, whose second entrant is Liberation. Her progress may have stalled. Liberation finished third in the Generous Portion, followed by a workmanlike allowance win at odds-on.
Others in the 12-runner field include My Kat, Cee Drew, Lino’s Angel, program favorite Miss Kona, Cara Rose, Cashed, Strong Morals, Pasalubong, and Crunchy.
Bettors looking for a live longshot might consider Cashed, whose low-rated maiden win last out earned a mere 52 Beyer Speed Figure compared to the 80 by Too Sassy. But the maiden win by Cashed woke her up.
“She breezed like a monster [on Oct. 26] at Del Mar,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “She’s coming into it in good shape.”
Cashed, who worked five furlongs in 59 seconds from the gate, should start at double-digit odds.
Golden State Juvenile
O’Neill’s best chance Friday comes two races later in the Golden State Juvenile.
Thirsty Rebel is a top contender while returning to statebred company. He finished second in the I’m Smokin Stakes this summer at Del Mar before facing open company in the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita.
“We gave him a shot. It just wasn’t the surface he preferred,” O’Neill said, referring to his ninth-place finish in the Speakeasy. “Now getting back on his preferred surface, he’s training well, and we’re expecting a solid effort.”
Thirsty Rebel benefits by the absence of Max Ciao, who beat him by a nose in the I’m Smokin. Max Ciao did not enter the Golden State Juvenile. Thirsty Rebel ran well in both starts at Del Mar this summer and will be ridden by Abel Lezcano.
With a two-month freshening and speed to control his destiny, Sammy Davis is a threat to wire the field. He won his first two starts at Del Mar, including the Graduation, but misfired in his third start of the meet. He finished fifth as the favorite in the I’m Smokin. For many horses, three starts in summer at Del Mar is one too many.
Others entered in the Golden State Juvenile include Mo Holland Drive, program favorite Ocean Bear, Fionello, Pavlovian, Can’t Help Myself, Southern Melodee, Love the Pressure, and Fumano’s Magic.
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