Sassy Little Lila stretches out in allowance

ELMONT, N.Y. – When Sassy Little Lila went gate to wire to win the final race of the 2016 Saratoga meet, it was a harbinger of the fall at Belmont Park for trainer Brad Cox.

Cox has registered a 5-3-3 mark from 14 starters at this meet, a stat he hopes will improve when Sassy Little Lila faces winners for the first time in Wednesday’s first-level allowance feature, kicking off the Belmont season’s final week.

Sassy Little Lila used her good gate speed to clear the field from post 12 at Saratoga and led her 11 rivals on a merry chase in winning the meet-ender. She won the 1 1/8-mile race by five lengths and continued to gallop out well, as if to indicate that the 1 1/4-mile distance of Wednesday’s race won’t be problematic.

“I do think she’ll handle the distance,” Cox said. “Her pedigree suggests she will; there’s a lot of European influence on the bottom half of the page that says she should handle a little more distance.”

Though she won her maiden on the lead, Cox doesn’t believe Sassy Little Lila is a need-the-lead type. She finished second in a July 24 race at Saratoga coming from fourth.

“She sat right off the winner,” Cox said. “She’s only 3, about to turn 4. She’s still trying to figure it out. She has talent, no doubt about it, and we’re excited about her, but she’s still in the education process.”

Penjade, trained by Chad Brown, is another 3-year-old seemingly with talent. She is just 1 for 9, with five second-place finishes. She was beaten a neck last out by a European shipper trained by Graham Motion.

Havana Moon and Chicadoro look to be contenders in this spot as well.

There is a $24,466 pick-six carryover on races 4 through 9 Wednesday. This is race 8.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sassy Little Lila, by Artie Schiller
Last 3 Beyers: 91-82-74

◗ A dominant winner of a 1 1/8-mile maiden race at Saratoga, from which the third- and ninth-place finishers came back to win and the runner-up came back to run second again, beaten a head, in her next start.

◗ Has run well from on or off the pace.

Penjade, by Air Chief Marshal
Last 3 Beyers: 87-88-83

◗ Was coming back again on Danilovna near the wire when beaten a neck in a similar condition going 1 1/16 miles last out.

“Had a difficult post, wide the whole way,” Brown said. “Hopefully, this time around with a better post, she’ll have a strong kick. We’re testing her at a mile and a quarter against older horses. She trains like she’s got a lot of quality.”

Chicadoro, by Paco Boy
Last Beyer: 73

◗ Attended a slow pace and faded late in the stretch when beaten four lengths in this condition off a three-month layoff.

◗ Did run second in a minor stakes going 1 1/4 miles at Newmarket.