Sharp Lady Tak Goes Four-For-Four With Tiffany Lass Score
By, John Gaver III

(January 26, 2003) - Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Lady Tak kept her unblemished record in tact by scoring a professional 2 ¾-length win over Allspice in the 12th running of the Tiffany Lass Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La. on Jan. 26. My Trusty Cat finished third in a field of eight three-year-fillies that was depleted by the late scratches of Cashmere Miss and Afternoon Dreams.

Breaking from post position five under jockey Donnie Meche, Lady Tak, a chestnut daughter of Mutakddim who is trained by Steve Asmussen, had some anxious moments in the starting gate prior to the race, as Allspice, breaking just to her inside, started acting up under jockey Robby Albarado just prior to Buffalo Jump, who was breaking from the one-hole, tossed her jockey, Patrick Husbands, behind the gate. All the commotion got to Belle Of Perintown, who became unglued in her stall, threw jockey Calvin Borel, lunged forward then sat down in her gate.

Lady Tak took everything in stride, however, and didn't turn a hair.

"I was glad to see her relaxed with the six (Belle Of Perintown) going to the ground in the gate," said winning rider Meche.

Lady Tak broke alertly then stalked the pacesetter, Perfect Wave, through an opening quarter-mile in a moderate :24.18, a half in :47.68 and three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.34. With a flashy turn of foot, Lady Tak swept to the lead inside in the last quarter-mile and was then taken in hand by Meche. Her final time for the one-mile event - her first start around two turns - was 1:38.60 over a "fast" Fair Grounds racetrack.

As the heavy favorite, Lady Tak returned $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10. Allspice returned $3.60 and $2.10. My Trusty Cat paid $2.10 to show. Perfect Wave, Cheryl's Myth, Buffalo Jump, Lady Mallory and Belle Of Perintown completed the official order of finish.

"She broke well, relaxed down the lane and the acceleration she had when I asked her was unbelievable," Meche said of Lady Tak's performance. "I think she has the heart if someone comes up to her she will dig in and do fine."

Florida-bred Lady Tak improved her lifetime record to a perfect four-for-four while winning her second consecutive stakes race. The $60,000 winner's share of the Tiffany Lass purse increased her lifetime earnings to $145,920. She will likely make her next start in the Grade III Silverbulletday Stakes on Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds, the final major prep for the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks on Mar. 8.

"We hope that race (Tiffany Lass) is a step in the direction of the (Fair Grounds) Oaks," Asmussen said. "She went the mile very well. With all the activity in the gate she got away well. I was more nervous than her. If all goes well, we'll nominate and aim to the Silverbulletday."

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