A Little Bit Sassy edged clear in deep stretch to prevail by 1 1/4-lengths in the $171,750 Edgewood S. Friday at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old filly is the newest stakes winner for More Than Ready, who now has 134 lifetime stakes winners, with eight black-type victors this year.
Trained by Michael Matz and ridden by Luis Saez, A Little Bit Sassy tracked the pace set by Istanford for the first six furlongs, which went in 1:13.14. Saez sent his mount after the leader on the far turn, pulling even with her in mid-stretch, then moved away in the late stage to secure the victory.
A Little Bit Sassy covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf in 1:42.79.
“She’s just a lovely filly,” said her owner Ramona Bass. “We’ve been excited about her from the beginning. I fell in love with her at Keeneland (2012 September Yearling sale). I had to have her. Thankfully, she’s really run well. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun with her.”
The victory was worth $102,226 and improved A Little Bit Sassy’s earnings to $165,758 with a record of 5-2-2-0.
Kentucky-bred A Little Bit Sassy is the first foal out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Miss A. Bomb, who was a two-time stakes winner of $211,451. A Little Bit Sassy was a $220,000 purchase at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling sale.
