Layoff not a problem for Sadie Bluegrass in Dream of Summer Stakes

Sadie Bluegrass returned from a layoff of more than 10 months to win the second stakes of her accomplished career in Sunday’s $76,350 Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Golden Gate Fields, the feature race on the closing day of the track’s winter-spring meeting.

Sadie Bluegrass ($7.60) closed from fourth in a field of eighth to catch pacesetter Sassy Nature in the final strides to win by a half-length. Ridden by Armando Ayuso, Sadie Bluegrass ran five furlongs on turf in 56.74 seconds.

Sassy Nature (5-2) set a quick pace of 20.74 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.11 for a half-mile, leading by as many as two lengths. Sassy Nature, the only 3-year-old in the field, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 6-5 favorite Chancery Way, who was second early.

Smiling Molly, Big Sis Little Sis, Tamantari, Rousing Jewel and Mischievous Curlin completed the order of finish.

Sadie Bluegrass races for the partnership of Madden Racing, Hon Cheung Kim, and Mei Tsai Hsiu and is trained by Jonathan Wong. A 6-year-old mare by Bluegrass Cat, Sadie Bluegrass has won 14 of 24 starts and earned $346,080.

Sadie Bluegrass, who was claimed for $12,500 in 2020, won the 2022 Camilla Urso Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in 2022.

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Wong, the leading trainer at the winter-spring meeting, said in a text message on Monday that Sadie Bluegrass will be considered for races at the Del Mar summer meeting, which begins on July 21.

On Saturday, the former $4,000 claimer Evenerevenworse led throughout the $65,550 Albany Stakes at five furlongs on turf in his stakes debut and 30th start.

Ridden by Evin Roman for trainer Bill McLean, Evenerevenworse ($16) stormed to an early lead by 2 1/2 lengths through an opening quarter-mile in 20.78 seconds, and held off a late run from 6-5 favorite Top Harbor to win by a neck in 56.23 seconds.

Evenerevenworse earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

Top Harbor, who was fourth on the backstretch, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 9-1 Psycho Dar, who closed from sixth in a field of eight.

Rager, My Summer Dream, Larry’s Legend, Lexington Humor, and Honeymoonz Over completed the order of finish.

Rager was ridden by Assael Espinoza, the leading rider at the winter-spring meeting, which began on Dec. 26.

Evenerevenworse, a 5-year-old California-bred gelding by Decarchy, races for the partnership of TKO Stables, Frank Ables, and Fred Desimone. Evenerevenworse was claimed by the partnership and McLean for $8,000 in February 2022 and has since won $104,600.

Earlier in his career, Evenerevenworse won a $4,000 claimer on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields.

The Northern California racing circuit moves to the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton for a four-week season beginning on Friday.

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