Jerry
Romans’ Sassy Image, who
sprang a 16-1 upset in the Grade I Humana Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day for her
fourth win in five starts at Churchill Downs, headlines a field of 10 fillies
and mares entered for Monday’s Grade III, $100,000 Winning Colors.
The
eighth running of the six-furlong Winning Colors, named in honor of the most
recent of three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, will be the ninth race on a
special 10-race Memorial Day program at Churchill Downs that begins at 12:45
p.m. (all times Eastern). Approximate post time for the Winning Colors is 4:59
p.m.
Preakness
Stakes-winning trainer Dale Romans conditions Sassy Image for his older
brother Jerry. They’ve enjoyed tremendous success with the 4-year-old daughter
of Broken Vow beneath the Twin Spires. At 2, she broke her maiden by 5 ¾
lengths and later won the Pocahontas (GIII) by two and the Golden Rod (GII) by
3 3/4. Her three-length triumph in the Humana Distaff on May 7 was her first
victory since taking the Sweet Chant at Gulfstream Park
early in her 3-year-old season.
“She
loves it here; she loves Churchill. She just loves the surface,” Romans said
after the Humana Distaff upset. “The Breeders’ Cup here in the fall is
something to think about.”
Sassy
Image landed post No. 8 and will be ridden Corey Lanerie, who takes over
the reins from Robby Albarado, who is riding in a pair of stakes at Lone
Star Park on Monday.
Dubai
Majesty, winner of the Breeders’ Cup
Filly & Mare Sprint last fall, won back-to-back runnings of the Winning
Colors in 2009-10, including a stakes-record clocking of 1:08.07 a year ago.
Her trainer Bret Calhoun and owners Martin Racing Stable and Morgan
Thoroughbred LLC will attempt a Winning Colors three-peat with Beat
the Blues, who makes her stakes debut after a 1 ¾-length score in an
allowance/optional claiming event over Polytrack at Keeneland on April 29.
Other
past winners of the Winning Colors are Lady Tak (2004), Molto Vita
(2005), Ever Elusive (2006), Miss Macy Sue (2007) and Graeme
Six (2008).
The
field for the Winning Colors, from the rail out (with jockey): Indian Ink
(Fernando De La Cruz), Stephanie Got Even (Shaun Bridgmohan), Wind
Caper (Jesus Castanon), Beat the Blues (Miguel Mena), Bell’s Shoes
(Kent Desormeaux), Fortune Play (Freddie Lenclud), My New Lady
(Jon Court), Sassy Image (Lanerie), Starlite Starbrite (Leandro
Goncalves) and Jocata (Calvin Borel). All horses will carry 118 pounds,
except for Sassy Image, who will tack 124.