Churchill Downs can be an intimidating place for a young horse to make a debut, especially during the week of the Kentucky Derby (G1). Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the winner of the first 2-year-old race of the year in Louisville, Ky., was cool, calm, and collected every step of the way April 30.
That filly is Sassy C W, the first starter and now first winner for grade 1 winner Yaupon . Catching a flyer out of the gate for jockey Jareth Loveberry, she immediately opened up a six-length advantage on her eight rivals in the opening quarter-mile and coasted down the stretch under no urging. At the wire she maintained a 5 1/4-length lead while completing 4 1/2 furlongs in :51.34.
"She's quick," Loveberry said. "That first jump, she was out. She's got a lot of that speed from (Yaupon)."
Yaupon also conquered his debut at Churchill Downs as he embarked on a 6-for-8 career. At 3, he won the 2020 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course and Chick Lang Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course. At 4, he ended his career with a head triumph in Saratoga's Forego Stakes (G1) despite every effort by Firenze Fire to bite him before the finish.
Yaupon was trained during his career by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who yelled a congratulatory, "Go Yaupon!" to Loveberry as the rider walked back to the jockeys' room. The stallion stands at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington for a fee of $25,000.
Out of the Tiznow mare Sassy Miss Sue, Sassy C W was bred in Kentucky by Harun Kahraman and purchased by Carolyn Wilson just a month before this victory for $375,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Wilson co-owns the filly with Vince Foglia's Patricia's Hope.
The filly posted four three-furlong breezes at trainer Larry Rivelli's Hawthorne Race Course base prior to this victory, giving Loveberry every sign he needed to be confident as the 6-5 favorite.
"I've been watching her at Hawthorne," he said. "I knew she's quick. She did everything right, she handled everything right: saddle, paddock, gate, everything like that. She did everything straightforward, and she handled the crowd and won pretty convincingly.
"Even in her gallop out, she was never too anxious, never too worried about anything. You never know first time out. And she passed every check mark."
