A compact field of seven state-bred three-year-old trotting fillies took centre stage last night at Balmoral Park, as the group contested the $25,500 consolation of the Lady Ann Reed Stakes.
Donald Huddleston’s Sassy Kat returned to her winning ways in the event, as she trotted to a one-length victory in 1:58 for driver John De Long.
Perfectly positioned in third by De Long after leaving from Post 2, the daughter of Vaporize--Speedy Sahara was content to bide her time and allow Make It Rain (driven by Robert Smolin) to roll along on the front through splits of :30, :59.1 and 1:27.4.
Having popped off the pylons on the final turn, De Long and his charge set dead-aim on the leader as the field turned for home.
The Mike Rogers-trained miss then proceeded to methodically reel in the top two, as she grabbed command inside the sixteenth pole and trotted to her fifth victory in 16 starts this season. Skyline Happy (Jared Finn) rallied from far back to be a fast-closing second, while the pocket-sitting My Funky Farkle (Dale Hiteman) was third.
(With files from Balmoral)