Sassy Image Finishes Fast at Calder

Favored Sassy Image came from out of the clouds to capture the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) by a neck to highlight the "Summit of Speed" program at Calder Casino & Race Course July 9, her second grade I win in two months.

The field was seven abreast at mid-stretch in the six-furlong Princess Rooney, Calder's only grade I race. However, Sassy Image, who looked hopelessly beaten at the quarter pole, blew past them all on the extreme outside under left-handed urging from Mike Smith to nip Musical Romance at the wire. The final time was 1:11.61 on a main track rated "good."

Trained by Dale Romans for his brother, Jerry Romans, Sassy Image earned her third consecutive graded stakes win, a streak that began May 7 with a three-length win in the Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I) on the Kentucky Derby program. The daughter of Broken Vow  —Ideal Image (by Hennessy) returned to take Churchill's Winning Colors Stakes (gr. III) by a neck May 30.