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Sassy Image makes incredible rally to land Princess Rooney

Sassy Image's got one step closer toward an Eclipse Award with a thrilling win (Jim Lisa Photos) After looking hopelessly beaten when 15 lengths adrift of the leaders down the backside of the $350,000 Princess Rooney H. (G1) at Calder, Jerry Romans' SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) made one of those wide, closing moves reminiscent of those Forego used to make a generation ago. Still last of 10 fillies and mares turning for home, and also with a furlong remaining, the Dale Romans trainee made considerable progress while racing well out in the middle of the track and just got up in the final strides to deny Musical Romance (Concorde's Tune) by a neck. The 8-5 favorite completed six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 over the good main track under Mike Smith and paid $5.20, $3.20 and $2.80. Off slowly and giving her competition a seemingly insurmountable advantage, Sassy Image was aided in part by a blistering pace. Cosmo Girl (City Zip) was in front narrowly through splits of :21 1/5 and :44 4/5, but by the time she had achieved the latter time passing the quarter pole, the field had bunched up considerably. A mad scramble ensued through the stretch with the entire field covered by a margin of five lengths a furlong out. Emerging from the scrum to lead briefly was the 7-1 Musical Romance, who looked like she would hold on over the fast charging Sassy Image, who was some distance away from her close to the stands' side rail. However, the classy favorite would not be denied.

"The race set up for us exactly the way we wanted and expected it to," Smith said. "The problem was that my filly was not getting a hold of the track at all, especially early on in the race. She kept falling toward the outer part of the track. When I finally let her go where she was comfortable, she kicked it in for me. I didn't want to be way out in the middle of the track, but that's what it took."

Musical Romance easily held second by a length over the 15-1 Indulgence (Macho Uno), who nosed out 10-1 chance Stephanie Got Even (Stephen Got Even) for third. Next under the wire were Champagne d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), Jehan (Forest Wildcat), Cosmo Girl, Derwin's Star (Wildcat Heir), Bella Moneta (Max's Pal) and Don'ttalktome (Cactus Ridge).

Sassy Image took two tries to break her maiden, getting the job done in June 2009 at Churchill by 5 3/4 lengths. She placed in the Adirondack S. (G2) next out, but wouldn't come close to the top three again until returning under the Twin Spires that November. She recorded a pair of victories in the Pocahontas S. (G3) and Golden Rod S. (G2) at Churchill, then made her sophomore debut a winning one at Gulfstream Park taking the Sweetest Chant S.

The Kentucky-bred lass was sidelined following a fifth-place run in the Davona Dale S. (G2) in February 2010, and didn't reappear until finishing second against allowance/optional claiming rivals at Gulfstream on January 14. She trailed a field of seven in the Sabin S. (G3) in her next start, but rebounded to upset the Humana Distaff at 16-1 on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Last time, Sassy Image was just up to take the Winning Colors S. (G3) by a neck at Churchill. Her record now stands at 14-7-2-1, $804,931.

With this second top-level score of the season, Sassy Image appears to be in the driver's seat for champion female sprinter honors. The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) will be held again this fall at Churchill Downs, her home track where she possesses a five-for-six mark. Dale Romans said Sassy Image would go next to the August 27 Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga before shipping home for her Breeders' Cup preparation.

Bred by J C Davis Farm Inc., Sassy Image brought $42,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is out of the Hennessy mare Ideal Image, who has since produced the unraced juvenile filly Ayita (Thunder Gulch). Ideal Image is herself a daughter of the stakes-placed Amore Cielo (Conquistador Cielo), making her a half-sister to stakes victor Dynaman (Dynaformer), 1999 St Leger S. (Eng-G1) third Adair (Theatrical [Ire]) and Grade 3 runner-up Cyclorama (Theatrical [Ire]). Sassy Image's third dam is Header Card (Quack), queen of the 1981 Oak Leaf S. (G1).

This is the same family as Bellotto (Mr. Prospector), who ran second in the 1987 Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and third in that year's Derby (Eng-G1); multiple Grade 2-winning sire Intidab (Phone Trick); Grade 2-placed stakes-scoring sire Repriced (Roberto); and dual Grade 2 heroine Top Rung (Seattle Slew).

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