Churchill Downs: Sassy Image up in time to take Winning Colors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sassy Image once again flaunted her class and her fondness for the main track at Churchill Downs when she wore down front-running Beat the Blues to post a neck victory Monday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes.

With Corey Lanerie keeping her in the clear throughout the six-furlong journey, Sassy Image rallied from mid-pack to win for the fifth time in six tries at Churchill after getting up in the final 40 yards. A 4-year-old filly by Broken Vow, Sassy Image returned $3.80 after finishing in a swift 1:08.59 over a fast track.

Sassy Image, trained by Dale Romans for his brother Jerry Romans Jr., was coming off a 16-1 victory in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the May 7 Kentucky Derby undercard.

“Like I said before the race, this filly absolutely loves this racetrack,” said Dale Romans, who nine days earlier won the Preakness with Shackleford. “When she’s right, she’s awfully tough to beat.”

Beat the Blues, a 10-1 shot under Miguel Mena, was 4 1/2 lengths before third-place finisher Fortune Play in a field of nine fillies and mares.

* Earlier Monday, Lanerie also scored aboard Strike Impact ($7.80) when the Pat Dupuy-trained gelding held off a late run by favored Dark Cove to win a $59,308 turf allowance by a half-length.

* Because Monday is normally a dark day, there will be no racing here Thursday. The next live date will be the twilight card on Friday.