Maiden Sassy Agnes takes Lady Finger, gives NY freshman sire Central Banker first stakes winner

By Sarah Mace

Maiden Sassy Agnes put herself on the map in a big way on Saturday when she won Finger Lakes’ co-featured Lady Finger Stakes, a 6-furlong dash for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies worth $112,388. Sassy Agnes’ victory also gave her freshman sire Central Banker[2] his first progeny stakes winner. A top-ten first crop sire nationally, Central Banker stands in New York at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.[3]

This year’s Lady Finger Stakes attracted a robust field of nine, including five maidens who had earned the confidence of their connections to give this stakes race a try. Such was the case with Sassy Agnes, a Linda Rice-trainee for Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, who contested the Lady Finger on short rest.

Unveiled at the Spa on August 1 in a turf sprint for state-bred fillies, Sassy Agnes finished off the board following a slow start. At the close of the meet, the chestnut filly resurfaced on dirt and fared much better, finishing second after setting the early pace. Rice deemed Sassy Agnes ready to ship to Farmington six days later to give the dirt another try in the Lady Finger.

After the gates opened Ma Meatloaf (5-1) was hustled to the front from post eight, while Sassy Agnes (5-2 second choice) caught up to her from mid-pack and 3-5 favorite Shesasuperfreak — who ran to her name on debut when she aired by 10-plus lengths at Saratoga on August 15 — was forwardly placed from post two.

Shesasuperfreak went on with it at the rail while Sassy Agnes set up at her flank along the backstretch and the quarter went in 22.34. Ma Meatloaf chased in third three lengths back, while her stablemate from the Jeremiah Englehart barn, Jaded Lady, pursued another length back in fourth.

In the approach to the far turn Sassy Agnes drew even with Shesasuperfreak and passed her by at the three-eighths pole. Opening up daylight as Ma Meatloaf took over second, Sassy Agnes hit the head of the lane in full control.

Increasing her advantage to as much as four lengths with a furlong to go, Sassy Agnes saw her lead erode late as Ma Meatloaf unleashed a strong closing bid to her outside. The wire came too soon for the challenger to complete her mission, however, and Sassy Agnes finished first with three-quarters of a length to spare. After a half-mile in 46.45, she completed six furlongs over the fast going in 1:12.94,.03 faster than La Fuerza who won the Futurity[4] one race before.

Runner-up Ma Meatloaf finished 13 1/2 lengths clear of Jaded Lady in third. Completing the order of finish were Fat N Bitter, Shesasuperfreak, Bullion Babe, Maizelovesbrownies, Lily Flower and Public Merger. [VIDEO REPLAY[5]]

Bred by Klaravich Stables and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds[6], Sassy Agnes is a graduate of this year’s OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale, where Beach Haven Thoroughbreds made a winning bid of $105,000 after the filly breezed a furlong in :10 seconds flat.

Sassy Agnes, who has earned $83,182, issues from a familiar New York family. She is the first foal out of Bullish Sentiment, an unraced daughter of Stormy Atlantic. Bullish Sentiment is a full sister to Stormy’s Majesty (bred by Majesty Stud, LLC), winner of the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap, three other stakes races and earner of $336,649. Their dam is stakes performer Raffie’s Dream.

Bullish Sentiment has produced yearling and weanling full sisters to Sassy Agnes and was bred this year to Constitution.

Sassy Agnes’ successful young sire Central Banker[2] is a Grade 2-winning sprinter by Speightstown out of multiple stakes winner Rhum. He stood the 2018 breeding season at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds[7] in Saratoga Springs for a stud fee of $7,500.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/09/08/sassy-agnes-lady-finger/

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La Fuerza wins Aspirant Stakes with a tactical trip

By Sarah Mace

Talented Barry Schwartz homebred La Fuerza (Flatter) improved his career record to three-for-four when he won the $112,850 Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes for New York-bred juvenile colts and geldings on Saturday afternoon with a professional stalking trip.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, La Fuerza came into the 6-furlong Aspirant fresh from his first taste of defeat. After winning his debut and the Rockville Centre Stakes at Belmont Park by a combined 12 1/4 lengths in June and July, on New York Showcase day at Saratoga (August 24) he went back to the barn a well-beaten favorite when he finished last in the Funny Cide Stakes, which was won by Dugout. That day he veered out at the start and never really got in the game.

La Fuerza’s prior victories had both come through stalking tactics. In the Aspirant Jockey Chris DeCarlo, La Fuerza’s fourth pilot in as many races, adopted a variation of the same strategy from post one aboard the 1-4 favorite.

La Fuerza was outbroken at the start when the two outside horses – Kadens Courage and Pay the Vet – were gunned to the front of the seven-horse field. La Fuerza then charged up the rail to join the vanguard and, briefly, took a 1/2-length lead over Kadens Courage on the backstretch. Behind him Pay the Vet, Possetizzly, Big Mountain pressed heads apart in the closely-packed field.

In the approach to the far turn, 7-2 second choice Kaden’s Courage made an aggressive move from his wide position, accelerating and clearing horses to steal away the lead and save ground at the fence rounding the bend. La Fuerza was content, for the time being at least, to let him have his way. The remainder of the contest turned into a match race between Kaden’s Courage and La Fuerza.

The pair engaged fully at the furlong pole and La Fuerza took over just shy of the sixteenth marker before drawing clear to a 3-length victory in a final time of 1:12.97. Kaden’s Courage in second was 6 3/4 lengths clear of 51-1 longshot Pay the Vet in third. Completing the order of finish were Possetizzly, Big Mountain, Queens Dude and Shakin Not Bird. Wow Brown, a first time starter, was scratched in the post parade. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

La Fuerza who has earned $172,910 from his three victories was foaled at Barry Schwartz’ Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs. He is the first foal out of Jonata, a Kentucky-bred two-time winner purchased by Schwartz as a yearling for $100,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September sale. Without issue in 2017, she foaled colt by Mizzen Mast on January 27, 2018. Jonata was bred this year to English Channel.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/09/08/la-fuerza-wins-aspirant-stakes-tactical-trip/

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