Mark Breen's Sassmaster (Curlin) became the fourth next-out winner (from seven also-rans) to emerge from the Aug. 9 Saratoga six-furlong maiden won impressively by 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Golden Tornado (McKinzie) with a strong comebacking victory following a bit of a weather delay at Churchill Downs.
Fourth and beaten just over seven lengths when backed into 3-1 second favoritism for that lone previous racetrack appearance, the $550,000 Fasig-Tipton October purchase had been missing since and was returning here to run under Anthony Scimetta's name, with his boss Todd Pletcher serving his suspension.
Let go at 9-1 despite a favorable pedigree for this stretch out to two turns, the bay colt took up a position just ahead of midfield as the outposted Our Forefathers (Constitution) laid down a sharp early tempo beneath Joel Rosario. Sassmaster commenced a rally with just under a half-mile to travel and confronted the pacesetter on the swing for home. The new leader lugged in a bit at the furlong grounds, causing some slight interference to the rail-rallying Preside (Tiz the Law), who then switched to the outside and was gaining inches, but the wire came first.
Others to follow-up victoriously out of the Saratoga maiden include Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy, second), a future two-time stakes winner; Igniter (Volatile, third), winner of this year's Jimmy Winkfield Stakes; and Glorious Boy (Independence Hall, sixth), who took out last year's Pulpit Stakes.
Sassmaster is the second winner for his dam, a $350,000 KEENOV purchase by Stonestreet in 2020 whose multiple graded stakes-winning daughter Royal Charlotte (Cairo Prince, $408,150) produced SP Medicine Dog (Constitution). Sass and Class is also represented by the 2-year-old colt Medrar (Uncle Mo) and a filly by Good Magic foaled Feb. 23.
2nd-Churchill Downs, $114,834, Msw, 6-27, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:42.93, sy, 1/2 length.
SASSMASTER (c, 3, Curlin–Sass and Class, by Harlan's Holiday) Sales history: $550,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $74,496. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Mark D Breen; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Anthony J Sciametta Jr.
#8 SASSMASTER ($20.82) made a big move coming to the stretch to win race 2 at @ChurchillDowns. The son of Curlin was ridden by Flavien Prat and is trained by Anthony Sciametta, Jr. Mark Breen owns. pic.twitter.com/37L4Be2Yhf
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 27, 2026
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