Rising Star Cassatt Captures Ladies Classic

Sharp filly Cassatt won the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic  as a heavy favorite the night of Jan. 24 at Sam Houston Race Park, holding on by neck over the fast-charging Angelica Zapata.



It was the second time in three years that trainer Larry Jones and Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms swooped into Sam Houston to take the state of Texas' most lucrative event for Throughbreds. They teamed to win the inaugural race for older fillies and mares in 2013 with Joyful Victory.



A speedy 4-year-old gray daughter of Tapit  , 7-10 choice Cassatt posted her third straight stakes win following the Zia Park Oaks and Tiffany Lass at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots late last year. Cassatt also won the Monmouth Oaks (gr. III) last season.



Under a confident ride by regular rider Kerwin Clark, Cassatt defeated seven rivals in the 1 1/16-mile listed event while timed in 1:44.96 on a fast track. Leaving from the far outside post, Cassatt broke sharply and went immediately to the front, covering fractions of :24.29, 47.85, and 1:11.91, then holding off a huge late run on the outside from Angelica Zapata and Juan Leyva.



"The wire came just in time," Clark said.



Bred in Kentucky by Mt. Brilliant Farm out of the Giant's Causeway   mare Justenufftime, Cassatt's record stands at six wins from nine starts. The winner's share of $232,800 from the Houston Ladies Classic boosted her career earnings to $603,033.



Named for American painter Mary Cassatt, the filly was a $300,000 purchase from the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale when consigned by her breeder.



"I was glad to see the wire hurry up and get there because they went pretty quick," commented Jones. "They made a race out of it. She's a classy filly and just now starting to get the hang of it."



Jones has been patient with Cassatt, acknowledging that she is a late developer similar to Joyful Victory



"We had a weird start to her career; had to do a lot of jumping around," said Jones. "But now we're getting in a good rhythm. She got a little nervous tonight; she's getting better, but still had those cotton picking nerves."



Jones will take the same route with Cassatt as he did in 2013 with Joyful Victory, pointing to the Santa Margarita (gr. I) March 14 at Santa Anita Park.



Angelica Zapata almost caught the winner.



"We needed two more jumps and she would have had it," said trainer Ron Pelligrini. "She's a game mare and always gives her best."



Pelligrini said the decision was made before the Houston Ladies Classic to send the 7-year-old mare to Keeneland for auction Feb. 9.



"That was her last race, unless she does not meet her reserve," he said.



Shanon Nicole, trained by Michael Maker, finished third under Miguel Mena. A second entrant trained by Jones, Blue Violet, ran fourth, followed by Kiss to Remember. Defending champion Rose to Gold finished sixth, followed by Sparta Magic and Fruttidimare.



It was a second victory of the evening for Jones and Fox Hill Farm, whose Exodus delivered a standout 2 1/4-length victory in the $50,000 Allen's Landing Stakes. Clark was aboard the 3-year-old Medaglia d'Oro   colt, a half brother to Cross Traffic   out of the grade I-winning mare Stop Traffic, by Cure the Blues.



"We think he's pretty special," Jones said after Exodus was timed in 1:24.32 for seven furlongs to win at 2-5 odds.