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Cassydora leads them on a merry chase in Hillsborough Green Hills Farm's CASSYDORA (GB) (Darshaan) took the early initiative and never looked back in Saturday's $150,000 Hillsborough S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Under astute handling by John Velazquez, the Todd Pletcher mare angled across from her outside post and carved out tepid splits of :24 4/5, :49 3/5 and 1:13 1/5. When My Typhoon (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) delivered her challenge entering the stretch, Cassydora had plenty in reserve and drew away to record a 1 3/4-length victory. By completing about 1 1/8 miles on good turf in 1:48 4/5, the 7-5 favorite returned $4.80, $2.80 and $2.40. My Typhoon stalked the pacesetter throughout but could not match her late kick, settling for runner-up honors in her seasonal reappearance. As the 9-5 second choice, she yielded $3.20 and $2.60. Masseuse (Dynaformer) was prominent in the early going and kept on resolutely for third, one length adrift of My Typhoon, paying $4.20 at odds of 10-1. The exacta was worth $13.20, the trifecta $91.60, and with the 5-1 Rich in Spirit (Repriced) in fourth, the 9-6-5-1 superfecta totaled $230.20. Next came Jacaranda Jane (SAf) (Joshua Dancer), Warrior Girl (War Chant), On a Cloud (Silver Hawk), Shared Dreams (GB) (Seeking the Gold) and Marge S (Chester House). Chic Dancer (Joyeux Danseur) was scratched. Cassydora improved her record to 11-5-1-1 with $338,479 in earnings. She began her career with John Dunlop in England, capturing the 2005 Oaks Trial S. at Lingfield and placing in the Nassau S. (Eng-G1) and Prix de la Nonette (Fr-G3) that same season. After missing all of 2006, she made a successful reappearance in a January 11 allowance at Gulfstream Park in her U.S. bow. Cassydora was exiting a similar front-running tally in the February 17 Endeavour Breeders' Cup S. at Tampa. Bred in Great Britain by Hesmonds Stud Ltd., the winner is the first registered foal from 2000 Premio Lydia Tesio (Ity-G2) queen Claxon (Caerleon), who is herself a daughter of 1994 Fred Darling S. (Eng-G3) winner Bulaxie (Bustino).
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