Sassy Nature takes on males following runaway maiden score
ARCADIA, Calif. – From head-scratcher to jaw-dropper, two starts by Sassy Nature share one similarity – speed. Question is, which race was the aberration? Was it the 16-length drubbing first out, or runaway maiden win in her second start?
“The first time, we thought she was going to win big and she didn’t,” trainer Luis Mendez said. “We were disappointed, to be honest.”
Sassy Nature sped to the lead, stopped to a walk, and lost by more than 16 lengths.
It was a different story Jan. 7 at Santa Anita. Sassy Nature added Lasix, popped the gate, and crushed by nine lengths.
“What she did the second time, I was expecting that the first time,” Mendez said. “It sounds cocky when I say no, it didn’t surprise me.”
Sassy Nature earned a gawdy 88 Beyer Speed Figure in her maiden romp and should be strongly favored Friday at Santa Anita in race 3, a six-furlong allowance for California-bred 3-year-olds. Sassy Nature is the lone filly in the six-runner field; her rivals include last-out maiden winner Devil Among Us and late-runner Clouseau. Red Cross Knight, Chick’s Git It, and Tangledupingrey also are entered.
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The dirt sprint is first of two entry-level allowance sprints for 3-year-olds Friday. In race 6, debut winner Mi Hermano Ramon is expected to be favored in a hillside turf race that includes droppers For A Laugh and Wound Up, along with Rexford and Mas Rapido. Five are entered.
The fastest runner Friday is Sassy Nature in race 3. A daughter of Straight Fire produced by stakes winner Renee’s Queen, Sassy Nature showed speed in workouts prior to her Del Mar debut and was bet from 4-1 program odds to 1.90-1 second choice. She set the pace for a half-mile and surrendered. In hindsight, Mendez believes she was too weighty.
“She’s kind of a heavy filly, we thought she was going to benefit from Lasix,” the trainer said. “We think that’s the reason she improved. That was a big change.”
Sassy Nature’s 88 Beyer is second-highest by a California filly foaled in 2020; Blessed Touch earned a 90 in an autumn maiden race at Santa Anita. As for Sassy Nature, her Monday blowout suggests she will reproduce her maiden win. She blazed three furlongs in 33.60.
“She did it really easily,” Mendez said.
Mendez and owner Chad Calvert could have waited until Sunday to start Sassy Nature in a California-bred allowance restricted to fillies, but the filly race scheduled for Sunday could be tougher than the Friday race against males. Mendez would know.
Among those possible for the Sunday allowance is Ceiling Crusher, who Mendez trained last year when she won her only start by nearly five lengths. Ceiling Crusher subsequently was sold privately and transferred to trainer Doug O’Neill.
In race 6 on Friday, Mi Hermano Ramon shortens to 6 1/2 on the hill after a debut win at a mile on turf Dec. 4 at Del Mar. The third- and fourth-place finishers won their next start. Mark Glatt trains Mi Hermano Ramon.
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