Photo by Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club

What a Sunday afternoon it was! Rory McIlroy won his second consecutive Masters tournament (yes, there are some serious golf enthusiasts among our tribe) and Herringswell won three races!

SASSARI got the party started for us, winning the first race on the Laurel Park card. The 1 1/16 mile maiden special weight on the grass was the debut for the 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road, ridden today my Mychel Sanchez. Sassari “accelerated to the front, moved to the inner rail entering the first turn, remained near the rail and drew away through while kept alert.”

She hit the wire 4 3/4 lengths ahead of stablemate Amaretto Queen who, incidentally, is owned by Andrew and Janie Motion’s Old Chapel Farm.

Congratulations to Antony Beck’s Gainesway Stable, who also bred Sassari from the multiple graded stakes placed mare Cherry Lodge, by Bernardini.