Sassafrassness a comfortable and popular winner
LAUREL, MD – Dave Rodman, the “Voice of Maryland Racing,” gave another classic call in Sunday’s opening race at Laurel Park, a $47,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and upward at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.
“Davyjonz not Monkee-ing around today,” announced Rodman. as the 4-year-old colt split horses under jockey Horacio Karamanos to grab the lead inside the sixteenth pole. From there, Davyjonz closed the curtain on his rivals, winning by three-quarters of a length over Danner.
Ennis Town was another three-quarters of a length back in third. Then came Built by Khozan, favored Gung Ho, Karma’s Inthehouse, Potcake, and Bold Mirage.
Davyjonz completed the distance in 1:02.15 over the firm course and returned $30.20 to win.
Trainer Robin Graham, right arm in a sling, had Davyjonz ready to rock and roll in his first start following 450 days on the sidelines.
”Being a colt, he’s a little bit heavy, and we just had to give him time to grow up,” Graham said. “Then we gave him a little bit more time to grow up.”
Karamanos, who returned to Laurel earlier in the week after wintering at Gulfstream Park, settled Davyjonz along the rail near the back of the pack. At the same time, Karma’s Inthehouse blazed the way through an opening quarter in 22.01 seconds.
Davyjonz cut the corner into the long stretch, eased out to split rivals three wide, then surged past Danner, who returned from a 513-day break.
Davyjonz raced five times on dirt to begin his career, and he showed some promise, hitting the board on three occasions while earning a 62 Beyer Speed Figure top.
Because of those solid performances, Graham admitted she was a bit reluctant to start Davyjonz on grass.
“I entered him on the dirt a couple of weeks ago, and [the race] didn’t go,” Graham said. “So, I [entered] him on the dirt [again], and it didn’t go. I [entered] on turf, and [the racing office] asked if I wanted to go Main Track Only. I said, ‘No, I want to run’. They’re all maidens, so who knows who’s special?”
Bred in Maryland by Lady Olivia at North Cliff LLC, Davyjonz is by Bourbon Courage. His dam, Forest Diva, is a half-sister to stakes-winner Lady Olivia and stakes-placed Cryptogram.
Initially a $6,000 yearling buy, Davyjonz went for $17,000 as a June juvenile. Purchased by owner David Walfish at that auction, Davyjonz had now earned $58,045.
As for Graham, she looks forward to saddling Davyjonz with two working arms.
“They replaced [the shoulder],” Graham said. “I’ve got three more weeks with this on before I can use it. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Asked how she suffered the injury, Graham responded, “Galloping horses for 47 years.”
*Sassafrassness a popular winner
After a one-race excursion to Delaware Park, Sassafrassness returned to Laurel Park with a facile 5 ¼-length victory in the second race, a $40,000 “non-winners of two” claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs.
Piloted by jockey Jaime Rodriguez, Sassafrassness broke nicely and tracked from second position as Melancia carved out fractions of 22.74 and 46.83 seconds.
Rodriguez asked his mount for a little more at the quarter pole, and Sassafrassness responded immediately, blasting past Melancia to win in 1:12.04 over the fast track. Esroh rallied for second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Melancia.
Favored Sassafrassness paid $4 to win.
Rodriguez said the plan was to sit behind Melancia. “She broke good. When she was ready to go, I let her loose. I had a lot of horse.”
Sassafrassness, a 3-year-old filly by Unified, was bred in Maryland by trainer Jamie Ness’s Jagger Inc. She is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Speedyness, multiple stakes-placed Starry Moon, and stakes-placed Royal Number. Their dam, Hartigan, was a stakes-winner on both dirt and turf.
A rallying winner in her debut, a $45,000 waiver maiden claimer at Laurel on March 7, Sassafrassness finished seventh of eight three weeks later in a first-level allowance. Last month, she finished third when entered for the $75,000 claiming option at Delaware.
Rodriguez told Ness that a class drop was in order.
“The last time when she ran, I beat her with another one for Jamie at Delaware,” Rodriguez said. “She showed a little bit at the end. I told him that her last two races were a little bit tough for her.”
Sassafrassness was claimed out of today’s victory by trainer Brittany Russell on behalf of Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group.
*Around the track
Jockey Ismerio Villalobos rode three winners on the Sunday program while Yedsit Hazlewood booted home two winners…Live racing resumes Friday with a nine-race program. The first post time is 12:10 ET…Give Dad the ultimate Father’s Day experience with Laurel Park’s “Father’s Day at the Races” on Sunday, June 15, between noon and 4 pm ET. Enjoy a specially designed buffet featuring Dad’s favorites – from perfectly grilled meats to classic sides, all prepared by our executive culinary team. Davidus Cigars will provide Lord Baltimore Maduro Cigars in our designated smoking areas, and our Father’s Day bourbon bar features an exceptional selection of American whiskeys. Laurel Park will also feature two special steeplechase events as well as the $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf. For tickets and more information, click here…
