Joy's Rocket wins Letellier, Quick Tempo takes Sugar Bowl
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Joy’s Rocket and Quick Tempo proved prompt odds-on winners of the Letellier and Sugar Bowl stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Joy’s Rocket had led early in all five of her starts before Saturday and was outrun for the Letellier lead by Double Whopper, but the filly didn’t let a new experience bother her. Under Ricardo Santana Jr., she tracked the pacesetter, took the lead heading toward the quarter pole, staved off a serious upper-stretch bid from Mariah’s Princess and pulled away late to post a popular 1 1/2-length victory. Joy’s Rocket, giving trainer Steve Asmussen his 100th Fair Grounds stakes win, was timed in 1:10.17 for six furlongs and paid $3.60.
Mariah’s Princess hung in gamely enough for second, a half-length clear of Charlie’s Penny.
Joy’s Rocket, who had won the Songbird Stakes at Keeneland in her last start, now is 6-4-1-0 for owners Team Hanley and Parkland Thoroughbreds. The filly, bred in Florida by Weston Thoroughbreds Training and Sales, has an off-the-beaten-path pedigree as a daughter of Anthony’s Cross and the Special Rate mare, Queenie’s Pride.
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In the Sugar Bowl, the aptly named Quick Tempo broke brilliantly from the rail under Adam Beschizza, flying through an opening quarter in 21.47 seconds, busting around the turn on a clear lead, and passing the quarter pole after a half-mile in a testing 44.50. Quick Tempo slowed considerably in the homestretch, requiring 13.22 seconds to cover his final furlong after getting five-eighths in 55.90, but he never was threatened, crossing the finish 1 3/4 lengths better than runner-up Gagetown.
Twilight Blue was another half-length back in third as the winner, who paid $3.60, stopped the timer in 1:10.12 for six furlongs.
Chris Davis trains Quick Tempo for Dare to Dream Stable. Now a three-time winner from five starts, Quick Tempo is by Tapizar out of Sing Dixie Sing, by Dixie Union. He was bred in Kentucky by Albert and Joyce Bell.