Ashley's Sassy, Patriots Rule earn stakes shots

Ashley’s Sassy will start in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31 after winning her second consecutive start in an optional claimer for California-bred 2-year-old fillies in Thursday’s fourth race.

Ridden by Alonso Quinonez, Ashley’s Sassy rallied wide through the stretch to win the six-furlong race by 1 1/4 lengths over Easter Fever in 1:09.98.

“That was an impressive win,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “She got taken back when the dirt hit her in the face.”

The Golden State Juvenile Fillies for California-breds is run over seven furlongs and is part of the undercard of the first day of Breeders’ Cup races.

On the same Oct. 31 program, Patriots Rule will seek his third straight win in the $200,000 Twilight Derby over 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds.

On Thursday, Patriots Rule ($8.60) closed from ninth in a field of 10 to win an optional claimer over a mile on turf for 3-year-olds, edging 5-2 favorite Sammy Mandeville by a head.

“We wanted a good performance,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said. “We wanted to go into the Twilight Derby with a horse that was legit.”

Diodoro said he was encouraged that jockey Fernando Perez was able to get Patriots Rule to be patient at the back of the field and close with interest.

“He definitely picked it up in the second half,” Diodoro said. “I told Fernando, ‘You have to ride your race and let him settle in. You can close.’ ”

Owned by Charles Garvey, Patriots Rule won the E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred sprinters at Los Alamitos on Sept. 5.