J. Kirk and Judy Robinson’s She Digs Me, fresh off a win in the July 24 Tyro Stakes, blew the doors off of his nine rivals to win the $106,500 Sapling Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 3 at Monmouth Park.
The son of Henny Hughes won the six-furlong race in 1:10.34, topping a dead-heated pair of Jagati and Black Rhino by 6 1/4 lengths (VIDEO).
Breaking from post 9 under Elvis Trujillo, She Digs Me was seventh after an opening quarter mile of :22.10 set by even-money favorite Voodoo Daddy. Julien Leparoux and Voodoo Daddy maintained the lead, by a head, after a half-mile in a crisp :45.05.
With a quarter-mile to go, She Digs Me had improved his position with a four-wide run around the turn and then made short work of his rivals in the stretch. Voodoo Daddy faded to finish eighth, with pace-presser Deliburnsky also dropping back, finishing ninth.
The winner, trained by Steve Asmussen has now won three of five starts with one second-place finish.
“I didn’t really get any instructions,” said Trujillo. “The trainer told me to do whatever I thought was best. I saw there was a lot of speed in the race so the plan was to break well, take a hold, and sit right behind. Turning for home, he was still going easy so I knew I was in good shape.”
After an eighth-place finish in his late-April debut at Keeneland, he ran second in a maiden effort at Churchill Downs June 11 before getting his initial win July 2 under the Twin Spires. All three of his first starts came at 4 ½ furlongs. He then tried the 5 ½-furlong Tyro, and cruised to a two-length win under Trujillo. He has now earned $148,670.
“We didn’t have to give Elvis (jockey Trujillo) any instructions,” said Asmussen’s assistant Mitch Dennison. “He knows the horse well. He did a great job with him. He kept him relaxed early on just like he did last time and got the job done.”
Bred in Kentucky by Mike Rutherford, She Digs Me is out of the Valid Expectations mare Stage Stop. He was a $50,000 purchase out of last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale. The Robinsons signed the ticket for the colt during the eighth session of the sale from the consignment of Legacy Bloodstock, agent. His half brother, by first-year sire Midnight Lute , sold to Goldmark Farm for $150,000 during the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale
She Digs Me returned $10.60, $5.20, and $4.20. Jagati paid $7.20 and $5.60 to place, and Black Rhino was $8.20 and $7 after reaching the wire on even terms. The 10-2 exacta (She Digs Me with Jagati) paid $71 while the 10-9 (She Digs Me/Black Rhino) exacta paid $53.