Sassy Little Lila headlines G3 Noble Damsel

by Najja Thompson

Looking to rebound off a fifth-place finish against males in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap, Sheep Pond Partners and Michael J. Ryan's Sassy Little Lila will return to headline a field of five in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Noble Damsel for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on Saturday at Belmont Park.

A 4-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller, Sassy Little Lila began her 2017 campaign winning an allowance race on May 20 at Churchill Downs. Following up with a solid effort in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont, she remained in front for most of the race before being caught at the wire, losing by a nose. She encountered an off going in the Fourstardave, though trainer Brad Cox reported she exited the race in good order and has been training well heading into the Noble Damsel.

"The yielding course due to the unexpected downpour just before the race probably didn't do us any favors, but she was in pretty deep facing the boys," said Cox. "She's put in three works since that race, most recently last Sunday, and I'm expecting her to run a big race on Saturday." 

With Julien Leparoux aboard, the pair will leave from post 2.

Set to make her first start since a fifth-place finish in the Just a Game, Celestine will be ready to kick off her fall campaign for trainer Christophe Clement and owner Moyglare Stud Farm. 

A 5-year-old Scat Daddy mare, Celestine picked up back-to-back victories in her first two starts of the year at Gulfstream Park, capturing the Grade 2 Honey Fox and Sand Springs.

"She's coming into the race in very good condition," said Christophe Louriel, assistant to Clement. "She had the whole summer off since running in the Just a Game and has been training well. We know she's a good filly and she's ready to go."

Drawing the rail, she will depart with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons.

Rounding out the field is multiple graded stakes winner Time and Motion for Philips Racing Partnership and trainer Jimmy Toner, Off Limits for trainer Chad Brown and owner Martin Schwartz and Malibu Stacy for trainer George Weaver and Jim and Susan Hill.

A 4-year-old home-bred daughter of Tapit, Time and Motion enters off a pair of third-place finishes in the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park on July 8 and the Grade 3 Beagay at Belmont last May. Making her first graded stakes start in North America, Irish-bred Off Limits captured an allowance race at Saratoga on August 12. Malibu Stacy also enters off an allowance win at the Spa on September 2.