No Show Sammy Jo finally gets to make her return

You’re wondering why No Show Sammy Jo has been a no-show in an actual horse race since making her 4-year-old debut on May 19 at Aqueduct? You’re thinking that the most recent layoff suggests the filly could be vulnerable as the likely favorite in the featured sixth race Thursday at Colonial Downs?

The layoff has nothing to do with soundness or race-readiness. And No Show Tammy Jo is a very likely winner of the Colonial feature, a second-level allowance with a $50,000 claiming option restricted to older fillies and mares carded for 1 1/16 miles on turf.

No Show Sammy Jo debuted in May of her 3-year-old season last year with a fourth-place finish in a seven-furlong maiden race, where she had a little more than a learning experience that pushed the filly forward into a smart second-start maiden turf mile win in June. That was it, though, for 2023.

“She had a little issue at Saratoga last year and we gave her plenty of time off,” said Graham Motion, who trains the daughter of Lope de Vega for Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stable.

No Show Sammy Jo returned from an 11-month layoff in a first-level allowance at Aqueduct – and turned in an eye-catching performance, running the last three furlongs of that one-mile contest in a sharp 35.02 seconds to win by a neck.

Motion entered No Show Sammy Jo in the Eatontown Stakes but preferred giving the filly another allowance start before jumping all the way to stakes competition, and with a second-level allowance on offer in New York the following week, Motion scratched her from the Eatontown. That didn’t work out, as the allowance race was rained off turf, forcing Motion to scratch, and the same thing – a rain-off and a scratch – happened again at Saratoga.

“It’s a little frustrating to be honest,” Motion said. “I do think highly of her. She’s very professional, very straightforward, kind of a big, attractive mare. She has a good mind and plenty of ability. I had her in going a mile and three furlongs at Saratoga, which is not what she needs, but probably within her scope.”

No Show Sammy Jo, Jorge Ruiz named to ride, should be fine over 1 1/16 miles facing six rivals Thursday. Lute Warm, the main danger, starts for trainer Brittany Russell, who has four wins from six starts at the meet. Lute Warm did get an easy lead clearing her first allowance condition last month at Delaware Park, but also won by more than five lengths.

Katies a Lady appears a more likely leader Thursday than Lute Warm, as Lute Warm in her other turf race among four starts, closed strongly to just miss landing a Laurel Park turf maiden in April.

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