Cassatt Romps in Fair Grounds' Tiffany Lass

Fox Hill Farm’s Cassatt strolled home an easy wire-to-wire winner in the $50,000 Tiffany Lass stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on Sunday afternoon. The Larry Jones-trained daughter of Tapit broke on top and never looked back as she demolished her competition by 5 ¾ lengths. Ridden by Kerwin Clark, the statuesque gray filly galloped through fractions of :24.23, :48.35, 1:13.34 and finished the mile and 70-yard distance in a sharp 1:43.09 while under wraps at the wire. The victory was her fifth in eight career starts and third in a stakes. Cassatt paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10 as the 3-10 favorite.

Finishing second was William S. Farish’s Interest Free, followed by Barry Schwartz’s Parc Monceau in third to complete an all-gray trifecta. Distorted Music and Sparta Magic completed the order of finish.

“It was a $50,000 workout,” Clark said. “We have been working this filly on getting her calm in the paddock. That’s where she really beats herself. She gets nervous and hot. She’s been getting better and better with every race. She got a little hot today, but she did the same thing in New Mexico – so I figured we were in great shape. As crazy as it sounds, you haven’t seen the best of this filly. I really believe that. She’s a freak.”

Cassatt won the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks in New Mexico on Nov. 26 in similar fashion by 4½ lengths. Next up for the Kentucky-bred will most likely be the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston.

Two races later in the card, Frank Fletcher Racing Operations’ Rocket Time won for the fourth time in his six-race career in the $50,000 Tenacious Stakes. Under Calvin Borel, the Al Stall, Jr.-trained son of Tiz Wonderful went wire-to-wire for his first two-turn win. The 3-year-old gelding won by three lengths over Dreamchaser Thoroughbreds’ Hard Aces in a time of 1:42.28, paying $5.20, $4.40 and $3 as the public’s wagering favorite.

Source: Fair Grounds Barn Notes