TDN RISING STARS

December 10, 2009 - Hollywood Park, Race 3, Msw, USD $38,000, 1 1/16m

Crisp, f, 2, 2007 by El Corredor

1st Dam: Cat's Fair, by Sir Cat
2nd Dam: Very Fair, by Honest Pleasure
3rd Dam: Equal Change, by Arts and Letters

Owner: Michael Talla
Breeder: James Jones & Randy Swanson
Trainer: John Sadler

Though Michael Talla's Crisp didn't make it easy on herself in her second career start, she was able to overcome her own antics to fly home a convincing winner. A $160,000 Keeneland September purchase, the John Sadler-trained filly was off to a slow start in her debut going 6 1/2 furlongs here Nov. 15, but came running for show honors, beaten 6 1/2 lengths. Taking plenty of early support in this stretch out before drifting up a tad to 2-1 odds, Crisp raced between horses in the opening furlongs a few lengths off the pacesetter. Switched to the far outside up the backstretch, she looked poised to pounce on the turn, but bore out badly nearing the quarter pole, and lost all momentum as jockey Rafael Bejarano tried to gather in his charge. The pair found themselves back about six lengths back in upper stretch, but once the ship was righted, Crisp closed like a shot down the center of the track and was up to best favored Fashion Trend (Petionville) by a length. The winner was produced by an unraced half-sister to Thorough Fair (Quiet American), dam of GISW Whywhywhy (Mr. Greeley) and GSW Spellbinder (Tale of the Cat). "We really loved her coming into this race, especially on the stretch out," said Sadler. "We thought she'd win, but then she didn't corner well--which is an understatement. We think she's going to be special. In her first start, she closed well and galloped out very well. She's such a big filly--she's close to 17 hands--that she was never going to be an early two-year-old, so we took our time with her. From here, we'll just take it one step at a time. There are some great three-year-old filly races here in California in the spring, and whether we'll have an allowance race in between, we'll have to see." Crisp was bought as a yearling by David Ingordo, who has had success with other 17-hand fillies--Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}). "David is my guy in Kentucky," said Sadler. "We work together on a lot of horses, and it's a real team effort." Crisp was broke in Ocala, Florida by Jeanne Mayberry. Her owner, Michael Talla, is the founder of the Sports Club/LA franchise. Sadler said he's been involved in the game for four or five years and currently has eight horses in training with him. "He's a real up-and-coming owner," said Sadler, "and he's a great guy."Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $27,120.