La Appassionata romps in My Trusty Cat

La Appassionata made quite an impression in Friday night’s $100,000 My Trusty Cat at Delta Downs, soaring to a seven-length win over Above Fashion. It was another length back to Jet Black Magic in third.

The My Trusty Cat, a seven-furlong race run around two turns, was the local prep for the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess. That race for 2-year-old fillies is Nov. 21. La Appassionata earned first preference into the Princess by virtue of her win Friday.

La Appassionata ($3.60) was making her first start against winners and her first at two turns in the My Trusty Cat, and she was content to settle in fourth behind Elegant Idea, who set a pressured pace of 23.20 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.30 for the half-mile. La Appassionata advanced three wide on the final turn and was in command into the stretch. She covered the distance on a track rated fast in 1:27.83.

Gerard Melancon rode the winner for trainer Steve Asmussen.

La Appassionata, who races for her breeder, Stonestreet Stables, is now 2 for 2. She won her debut in a maiden special weight sprint Sept. 13 at Churchill Downs. La Appassionata is a daughter of Bernardini and a half-sister to Grade 2 winners Beethoven and Wilburn.