Late posting here.  Sassy finished 5th in an allowance race at Laurel on Sept 9th.  

 For those of you who are interested in statistics and numbers, Sassy earned a new lifetime highest Equibase speed figure of 96.  This is just one point higher than the 95 she earned in the first race this year, but it is a good trend. She has now run two races this season in the mid 90’s, and two in the high 80’s and one in the low 80’s (outlier). 

This race, the jockey’s goal was to keep her back so she didn’t run to the front and tire herself out. There was almost no early speed (other than Paddle Board who won).  Sassy broke well as usual (she broke 1st with a comment from the jockey on her powerful break), but a horse bore in a little and our rider was able to pull her back and she complied.  He kept her in 4th most of the race and she made a run at the end.  Sassy was obedient and responsive and she gave a great effort. 

I was happy to see how she went at the end.  The final two furlongs for the race were  fast at 11:44 and 11:70. She tried her best to match those speeds, and as she was coming from behind, her splits were probably faster than that for a short while before she flattened out.  She went eye to eye with another horse, and passed it in the stretch, but she was unable to catch the leaders. 

 Sassy was 5th by just 3 1/4 lengths.  The race winner went wire to wire and got a speed figure of 101. 

We were again in an allowance race with stakes classes horses.  5 of the 11 horses were stakes placed, and we were right up there with them at the end, but regrettably we just didn’t have enough speed to win this race.  The par on the race, or the average speed figure needed to win this race was set at 97, we were just unlucky in that we went against a really strong field.

Of course we always want to win, but I’m very happy with Sassy’s effort in this really tough race. 

Go Sassy!