Matz Sends A Little Bit Sassy, Bashart to Churchill Stakes

 

Trainer Michael Matz is seeking a Saturday stakes double beneath the Twin Spires with Ramona S Bass LLC’s A Little Bit Sassy in the $200,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII) and Rosedown Racing’s Bashart in the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII). Both drew the far outside post in their respective fields.

 

A Little Bit Sassy will break from post 14 and has been given morning line odds of 10-1 for the Mrs. Revere, and Bashart has been made the 6-1 second choice in the Commonwealth Turf, breaking from the 13-hole. Jockey Luis Saez has the call on both Matz entries.

 

After taking the Edgewood at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day, A Little Bit Sassy crossed the wire first in the June 14 Regret (GIII) but was disqualified from first and placed fourth after veering out and impeding a pair of rivals in the stretch.

 

Most recently the daughter of More Than Ready finished fifth in Belmont’s Sands Point (GII) on Sept. 13 and ninth in her last outing, the Oct. 17 Valley View (GIII) at Keeneland.

 

“She’s certainly not in an ideal post position,” Matz said. “Her last two starts were on soft turf so I’m hoping it’s a little more firm out there on Saturday. She’s been doing well and hopefully she handles the surface better. It’s a tough field but if she can overcome that post position I think we will be in good shape.”

 

Bashart was moved into the Matz barn prior to a fourth-place effort in the Sept. 1 Saranac (GIII) at Saratoga and followed that with a runner-up performance in his last outing, Delaware Park’s Kent (GIII) on Sept. 20. Matz anticipates a stalking trip for the 3-year-old son of War Front.

 

“I hope the stretch is long enough to get in a nice position to stay right off the pace,” Matz said. “He seems to be in good form. Again, it’s obviously not a great post draw but I hope he will have enough speed to stay right off the pace and have a nice trip.”

 

Source: Churchill Downs Communications