Cassatt Pointing Towards Rachel Alexandra

Fox Hill Farm’s “TDN Rising Star” Cassatt (Tapit), an impressive 4 1/4-length maiden winner at the Fair Grounds Jan. 9, is likely to be pointed for a start in the GIII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds Feb. 22, owner Rick Porter confirmed Saturday. “I just talked to Larry and she came out of the race fine,” Porter said yesterday. Cassatt, a $300,000 Keeneland September purchase from the female family of Kitten’s Joy, debuted going two turns at Churchill Sept. 20, setting the pace before weakening late into third. She was subsequently promoted to second via disqualification. Porter explained the four-month absence. “She had some shin problems [out of her debut], but [Larry] told me he pushed them every which way and it looks like she came out fine. She’ll go back to the track [today].” While Porter is not willing to compare Cassatt to former stable star and Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), he said Jones holds her in high stead. “What Larry told me that she was probably the best 2-year-old he’s ever had. He’d never tell you that she’s better than Havre de Grace. But at this point, he certainly feels as strongly about her as he did about [GI Kentucky Derby runner-up] Eight Belles, and I feel strongly that she’s alot like [GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner] Round Pond (Awesome Again). She didn’t get any great numbers for that race the other day, but she did learn a lot, and if she had clear sailing, she might have pulled off and won by 10 or 12. We’ll see how good she is against stronger company.” Cassatt follows the likes of fellow Tapits Joyful Victory and Normandy Invasion to carry the Fox Hill red-and-white with some success. “We don’t go looking for Tapits. He’s making some horses that appeal to [bloodstock advisor Tom] McGreevy and me. We used to get pulled towards Unbridled’s Song, because he churned out a lot of good horses and I guess Tapit is producing some horses that are appealing to us. When Tom makes his short list he doesn’t look at pedigree, so I guess it’s just a coincidence.” –Alan Carasso