Thiskyhasnolimit captures Iroquois

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Thiskyhasnolimit can no longer be considered a morning glory. After disappointing his connections with a pair of losses in graded stakes this summer in New York, the quick-breezing colt broke through with a stakes victory Sunday, winning the $120,800, Grade 3 in decisive fashion.

Allowed to rate farther off the pace than usual, Thiskyhasnolimit followed the eventual runner-up Uh Oh Bango on the turn, and proved superior in the stretch, drawing off to a one-length victory and covering a mile under Shaun Bridgmohan on a fast track in 1:37.36.

Soaring Empire was third while favored Dublin, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in early September, was a non-factor, finishing seventh as the even-money favorite.

There was no disputing the two best horses in the Iroquois. Both Thiskyhasnolimit and Uh Oh Bango raced wide, but the ground loss mattered little to the two, who were moving best in the lane.

Though Uh Oh Bango kicked on well in his first start beyond six furlongs, he proved no match for winner, who poured on his finish late after being reserved in eighth early.

Thiskyhasnolimit ($28.20), trained by Steve Asmussen, and owned by Mark Wagner and Cathy and Bob Zollars, looms a potential candidate for Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at 1 1/16 miles on closing day of the Churchill Downs meet, Nov. 28.

Sassy Image, a troubled eighth in the Grade 1 Alcibiades last month at Keeneland, was the beneficiary of a far more favorable trip in the co-featured $115,900, Grade 3 two races earlier on the card.

Closing from the back of the pack under jockey Robby Albarado, Sassy Image rallied up the inside and found clear running room between horses in midstetch to rally to a two-length victory. A daughter of Broken Vow, Sassy Image ($6.20), raced a mile on a track that produced relatively slow times in 1:38.63.

Runner-up in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes this summer at Saratoga, Sassy Image, although in the rear of the pack early, always stayed within a few lengths with the leaders early in a tightly packed field, as Tiz Miz Sue and Vivid Colors set contested fractions of 22.46 seconds and 45.66.

After the leaders set a tiring pace, it was merely a question of whether Sassy Image would find room, and find it she did, closing to victory.

"Things parted and she kicked home nice," said Dale Romans, who trains the filly for his brother, Jerry Romans.

Robby Albarado, who scored his fourth win of the day aboard Sassy Image, said the filly appreciated the return to dirt racing after starting on Keeneland s Polytrack surface previously.

Decelerator, though no match for the winner, battled bravely from just off the pace to grab the runner-up prize, a head in front of 23-1 longshot All Due Respect, who had surged to lead in midstretch.

Rajiv Maragh, on the runner-up, felt a wide trip for Decelerator put her at a disadvantage. "Maybe if I d had an inside post it would have made a difference between winning a losing because she did have a wider trip than the eventual winner," he said.

Romans said Sassy Image was likely to return in the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, which like the Kentucky Jockey Club, is on Nov. 28.