Sassy Image strikes a pose in Humana Distaff

Jerry Romans' Sassy Image wasn't given much of a chance

by the betting public in Saturday's $345,600 Grade 1

Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs, but ran like a favorite

in the seven-furlong test to post an easy three-length victory. The Dale

Romans charge, last of seven in the February 19 Sabin S. (G3)

in her most recent start, was sent off the 16-1 longest shot on the

board and returned $34.20, $9.40 and $4.80.

"She loves it here; she loves Churchill. She just loves the surface,"

Dale Romans said. "Robby (Albarado) rode her perfect. The race was quick

enough up front that it set up just right for us. When he took her off

the turn, she just exploded. The Breeders' Cup here in the fall is

something to think about for sure."

Jockey Robby Albarado sported a visor to protect his recently broken

nose, but that didn't stop the savvy rider from settling Sassy Image

in fifth as Hilda's Passion set the pace through

splits of :22 1/5, :44 3/5 and 1:08 2/5. Albarado sent his mount with

three furlongs left, and the chestnut lass came running six wide into

the stretch. Sassy Image never let up her momentum, eventually drawing

clear by three lengths while stopping the clock in 1:21 on the fast main

track.

"It was a great setup," Albarado said. "We had enough pace up in

front of us to give her some room to clear them turning for home,

running from the outside, and she just did all the work."

"I just want to thank Dale (Romans) for sticking with me," Albarado said.

"It's unfortunate I got taken off the horse in the Derby but that's horse

racing, you know, it happens.

"Physically I feel great. It's more cosmetic than anything. I feel better

than I look, I know that. It doesn't feel bad at all. Just the bruising;

bruising doesn't hurt. My nose is broken and I have a little laceration above my

eye. Having said that, I'm lucky to be back here and riding on Derby Day in

Kentucky.

"A few of my colleagues brought back these shields for us," he added,

describing the visor he's wearing instead of multiple goggles. "They cover my

whole face and it's worked pretty well, I didn't have to pull it down at all the

entire race."

Hilda's Passion was best of the rest as the 3-5 favorite, with Amen

Hallelujah following in third by another three parts of a length. Tidal

Pool, Shotgun Gulch, Evening Jewel and Twelve Twenty Two completed the

order under the wire after Stage Magic was withdrawn.

The Kentucky-bred lass was sidelined following  a fifth-place

run in the Grade 2 Davona Dale in February, and didn't reappear until

finishing second against optional claiming rivals at Gulfstream on January

14. The Sabin last out marked her homecoming against stakes rivals, and

Sassy Image now boasts $532,355 in lifetime earnings to go along with

her 12-5-2-1 record following her Humana victory.

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. Ideal Image is herself a daughter of the stakes-placed Amore

Cielo, making her a half-sister to stakes victor Dynaman, 1999 Group 1 St. Leger S. third Adair and Grade 3 runner-up Cyclorama. Sassy Image's

third dam is Header Card, queen of the 1981 Grade 1 Oak Leaf.