July 5, 2025 - Saratoga, Race 1, USD $97,000, 5 1/2f, Maiden Special Weight
Dam: Sassy Ali Joy , by Indian Charlie
Owner: D J Stable LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds & Kenneth Frierich
Breeder: John Gardiner (KY)
Trainer: Mark T. Casse
Taking the vast majority of the pari-mutuel activity with the scratching of his would-be chief market rival Bento Express (Jpn) (Drefong), D J Stable, West Point Thorougbreds and Kenneth Frierich's Ewing (c, 2, Knicks Go-Sassy Ali Joy, by Indian Charlie) made light work of his four remaining rivals, streaking through the final furlong under mild urging to score by a dozen lengths en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors in the Saturday opener from Saratoga.
Favored at 35-100 and carrying the D J colors for the debut, the $585,000 OBS April graduate broke in midpack, then rushed up to lead while being hounded along by the once-raced Wesley Ward-trained filly She's On a Roll (Charlatan), who did her level best to stick with the heavy favorite through an opening quarter in :22.42.
The two put the better part of eight lengths on the others approaching the entrance to the stretch, and when She's On a Roll drifted out, Ewing quickly opened up, 'traveling' every bit like a winner and was more or less eased through the final 50 yards.
Herself a $60,000 OBS April grad, Ewing's dam Sassy Ali Joy did not make the races but was responsible for the stakes-placed Tuscan Queen (Street Boss) and was sold for $60,000 in foal to Collected at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. The mare was barren to Liam's Map for 2024 and was most recently RNAd on a bid of $22,000 during the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Digital May Sale when offered pregnant to Midshipman. The colt's third dam was a half-sister to the Grade II-placed Banshee Winds (Known Fact), the dam of 1998 champion 3-year-old filly and five-time Grade I winner Banshee Breeze (Unbridled).
Including a winner in Russia, Taylor Made's Knicks Go (by Paynter) was being represented here by his third individual winner. Bought back on a bid of just $37,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale, Ewing breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 (see below) and was snapped up by these top connections.
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