Audrey's Time works for Houston Ladies Classic

Audrey’s Time, who won her first stakes race Dec. 27 in the Spanky Broussard Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds, worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Sunday at Fair Grounds and is headed for the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 30 at Sam Houston Race Park.

Audrey’s Time finished third by more than nine lengths in her only graded stakes try, the Falls City last Nov. 25, but looks like a key player in the Ladies Classic, which drew only seven entrants and likely will have Pauline’s Pearl as the race favorite. Pauline’s Pearl will have Joel Rosario riding for Steve Asmussen.

The other entrants in the 1 1/16-mile contest are Velvet Crush, Becca’s Rocket, Champagne Affair, Golden Curl, and The Mary Rose.

:: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now!

Pessin said he and owner Bob Lothenbach declined a Pegasus World Cup invitation for Happy American and would point the progressive 4-year-old to the Mineshaft Stakes on Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds. Happy American, by Runhappy, won a Nov. 6 Churchill allowance race with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure and was beaten a nose by Chess Chief in the Tenacious Stakes on Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds.

Finally, Pessin said stable star Bell’s the One is nearing her first workout of 2022. The dirt sprinter is slated to make her first start this season in the Madison Stakes at Keeneland in April and “might look better than she ever has” after coming back from a winter break.

◗ Pass the Plate broke an eight-race losing streak with a game victory Saturday in the $100,000 Marie Krantz Stakes and is a likely starter in the $100,000 Al Stall Memorial on Feb. 19, trainer Paul McGee said.