Jones, Fox Hill back with Cassatt

Fox Hill Farms and trainer Larry Jones played a significant role in the Houston Ladies Classic becoming a graded stakes. The owner-and-trainer team shipped in for the inaugural edition in 2013 with Joyful Victory, at the time a Grade 2 winner who had placed in a trio of Grade 1 races. One start after her appearance at Sam Houston, Joyful Victory became a Grade 1 winner in the Santa Margarita.

Fox Hill and Jones are back Saturday for another run at the Houston Ladies Classic, now a Grade 3. They are bringing defending champ Cassatt as they attempt to win the race for the third time. The purse for the Houston Ladies Classic remains at $400,000, making the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares the richest Thoroughbred offering in Texas.

Jones on Wednesday said the Houston Ladies Classic was on his radar from its inception.

“It’s a good-money race,” he said. “It’s a high-dollar race, and I really like the racetrack there. The track is kind to the horses. And, look, I wear a cowboy hat. Houston suits me just fine!”

Jones was pleased that a grade had been granted to the Houston Ladies Classic.

“I’m so glad because this race definitely deserves to be graded,” he said. “The competition is tough. They bring in some good horses. As far as owners, it just makes it better. It’s a real good selling point.”

Cassatt, already a Grade 3 winner when she won last year’s Houston Ladies Classic, enters this year’s renewal off a win in the $102,000 She’s All In Handicap on Dec. 13 at Remington Park. She has since been prepping for the Houston Ladies Classic at her base of Fair Grounds.

“We’re planning on arriving in Houston on Friday morning, before training starts,” said Jones.

Florent Geroux has the mount Saturday. The field of seven from the rail out and with riders is: Forever Unbridled, Joel Rosario; Rose to Glory, Lindey Wade; Cassatt; Diva’s Diamond, Pat Valenzuela; Theogony, Joe Bravo; Calistar, Tyler Gaffalione; and Welcome Aboard, Deshawn Parker.

Theogony was supplemented to the Houston Ladies Classic.

The race will anchor a card that includes four stakes, with a first post of 5 p.m. Central. There is an all-stakes pick four on races 6-9. It has a minimum guaranteed pool of $100,000. The pick four has a 50-cent minimum and a 12 percent takeout, as is standard with multirace wagers at Houston.

Rose to Glory runs at Oaklawn

Rose to Glory is entered in the Ladies Classic but will pass on the race, according to trainer Donnie Von Hemel. She will instead run Friday at Oaklawn.

Rose to Glory goes in Friday’s eighth race, an optional $50,000 claiming route for fillies and mares at a mile. The race may give insight into the Houston Ladies Classic. It also drew Ribbon of Darkness, who was beaten a neck by Cassatt in the She’s All In Handicap in December at Remington.

Ribbon of Darkness will break from the rail Friday under Ramon Vazquez.

Rose to Glory is in post 2 for her first out since running fourth in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks in December. Channing Hill has the mount for owner Little River Racing.

Tosha Talifero could get an ideal tracking trip off Steel Cut, who stretches out to two turns off a third-place finish in the six-furlong Pan Zareta at Fair Grounds.

Also on the Oaklawn card Friday is an optional $40,000 claiming race at six furlongs. The chief players include Well Mannered, who in July ran third to 2015 champion sprinter Runhappy in an allowance at Ellis Park.

◗ Ivan Fallunovalot makes his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Saturday in the $100,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn. The race drew a field of eight older horses. Ivan Fallunovalot, who was a troubled ninth in the Breeders’ Cup, will break from post 5 under Calvin Borel. Others set to start include Gentlemen’s Bet, who will break from post 8 under Robby Albarado, and Alsvid, who goes from post 6 under Chris Emigh.

◗ The inaugural class for the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association’s Hall of Fame has been announced, with inductions to take place April 9 at Evangeline Downs. The group includes breeders and owners Leverne Perry and Claude and Bessie Lea Jeane. The horses in the first class are Oh Black Magic, Rocket’s Magic, and Royal Bushwhacker. The inductions coincide with the 50th anniversary of the LQHBA.

◗ Jockey Diego Saenz finished fourth at Fair Grounds on Sunday on his first mount since July. Saenz had been out with an injury.