Spendthrift Farm‘s Yaupon recorded his first stakes winner Thursday when Sassy C W delivered a commanding wire-to-wire victory in the Astoria Stakes at Saratoga.
The 2-5 favorite, who earned “TDN Rising Star” status in her Churchill Downs debut on April 30, maintained her perfect record with another front-running performance, this time extending to 5 1/2 furlongs.
Despite breaking slowest of the five-horse field, Sassy C W quickly accelerated to the front, establishing a commanding lead through fractions of :21.92 and :45.41. Under a hand ride from jockey Jareth Loveberry around the turn, the promising juvenile filly maintained her advantage and crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of her strung-out competitors, completing the distance in 1:06.04.
“She breaks so fast that [Loveberry] said the ground just broke out from underneath her,” said winning trainer Larry Rivelli. “I thought she’d be three in front as soon as they opened the gate. She’s a pretty special filly. I was expecting her to do it, and she did, but when you’re 2-5 it’s always something anxious.”
Rivelli indicated they would be selective with her future placements, adding, “Hopefully we can keep her winning, but this was a big race for her. She’s got a lot of talent, a lot of class.”
Loveberry, while acknowledging her sprinting prowess, noted potential for distance flexibility. “I think she feels like a sprinter, but her gallop-out, she is galloping out great,” he said. “So who knows where to go from here. We’ve got a good filly and I’m thankful for the whole team.”
Sassy C W, owned by Patricia’s Hope LLC and Carolyn Wilson, returned $2.90 for the win. Gena B finished second, 3 lengths back, with Vernon Valley completing the trifecta another 2 3/4 lengths behind.
The winner was purchased for $375,000 at this year’s OBS March sale. Her dam, Sassy Miss Sue, sold for just $37,000 with Sassy C W in utero at the 2022 Keeneland November sale before being exported to Turkey in 2023. The mare reportedly delivered a full sister to Sassy C W in 2024.
Sassy C W represents an important milestone for her freshman sire Yaupon, a son of Uncle Mo, who now has both a winner and a stakes winner from his first crop.
Sassy C W ($2.90) blows the break and then blazes home in the Astoria Stakes under jockey @jareth16.
The 2-year-old daughter of @spendthriftfarm Stallion Yaupon is now 2-for-2 for trainer Larry Rivelli. pic.twitter.com/nScYk4lfDq
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires)
Sassy C W ($2.90) blows the break and then blazes home in the Astoria Stakes under jockey June 5, 2025
