Sassy Little Lila might take on males in Fourstardave

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sassy Little Lila was scratched from Saturday’s $100,000 De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga and now might make her next start against males in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave here, trainer Brad Cox said.

“We’re going to look at the Fourstardave right now. It’s nothing definite, but it’s a possibility,” Cox said Saturday morning. “I think it depends on the weights and the pace scenario.”

The Fourstardave is a handicap, and the racing secretary is expected to release the weight assignments on Sunday. Sassy Little Lila has yet to win a graded stakes of any kind – she was second in a pair of Grade 1 races for fillies and mares – so she figures to get a significant weight break from the likes of Grade 1 winner American Patriot.

Further, Sassy Little Lila could project as the main speed in what is likely to be a short field in the Fourstardave.

Others considered definite as of Saturday were Ballagh Rocks, the winner of the Grade 3 Poker; Disco Partner, who set a North American record for six furlongs on turf in winning the Grade 3 Jaipur in June; Time Test, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Manhattan; and World Approval, the winner of the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico.

Sassy Little Lila, a 4-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller, has three wins and four seconds from eight career starts. In two tries in Grade 1 company, she finished second, beaten a nose, in the American Oaks at Santa Anita and, most recently, finished second behind Antonoe in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont on June 10.

On Saturday morning, Sassy Little Lila worked four furlongs in 48.86 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course. She got her final quarter in 23.69 seconds.

“I like the way she came home and galloped out, tremendous breeze,” Cox said.

Also scratching from the De La Rose was Freudie Anne, who will make her next start in the Yaddo Stakes for New York breds on Aug. 25 here. On Saturday, Freudie Anne worked four furlongs in 50.10 seconds over the Oklahoma dirt course.