BASSETT'S FILLIES MAKE HIS JOB FUN

COURTESY OF LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE


Fancys First Affair

BASSETT'S FILLIES MAKE HIS JOB FUN


It must be fun to be Joe Bassett right now. He looks at one end of his barn and relaxing in her stall is the undefeated La Primera Del Ano Derby winner Fancys First Affair. The 23-year-old trainer walks around to the other end of the shedrow and standing proudly is the reigning champion 2-year-old Blues Girl Too.

Bassett will send out both standout fillies in Saturday's trials to the richest Golden State Derby since 1989. Owned by Lucky Seven Ranch, Blues Girl Too will make her first start be in action in the second of three 400-yard trials, while Fancys First Affair runs in the final heat. The final will be held on Saturday, September 1. Bassett is anxious to see his two outstanding fillies perform in the rich Golden State trials.

"It's been a little over seven months since Blues Girl Too last raced but it feels more like three or four years," Bassett said. "I've been looking forward to seeing her run."

Blues Girl Too had minor surgery to remove chips from her knees and ankles according to Bassett right after her victory in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. She rested at Burns Ranch for about a month right after her surgery before traveling down the road to Double Bar S Ranch to begin a 30-day swimming program. Following her swimming regimen, Blues Girl Too went to Bonnie Acres in Hemet for some work on the Aqua-Tred. The Aqua-Tred, essentially a pool with a gentle sloping walking surface covered with rubber mats at both ends, helps strengthen a horse's tendons, ligaments and muscles. The water helped take 40 to 60 percent of Blues Girl Too's body weight off her legs.

"She came back feeling great," Bassett said. "We watched her very carefully the first couple of days that she galloped just to see if we could notice anything that might be concerning. (Jockey) Saul Ramirez said she was feeling great. We're very happy with the way she's trained."

Blues Girl Too will be facing El Primero Del Ano Derby winner Not A Full Moon, Jens List Memorial Stakes winner Trisk, the stakes placed runner Don Juan Bryan SA and Los Alamitos Two Million finalist First Down Morn in a very competitive Golden State Derby trial.

"I wish it wouldn't have been as tough a race but she was going to have to face the good ones at some point," Bassett said. "You have only 27 horses running for $320,000 so all the good ones are going to show up.

"We've tried to keep everything the same for Blues Girl Too going into her debut. We haven't changed any of her equipment but I am a little worried that her first start is at 400 yards. Having said that, we have to point her to the big money races and the Golden State Derby is one such race," Bassett added. "Saul's instructions are to give her a solid race. Blues Girl Too will tell us if she can go for the win or not. Not A Full Moon's best distance is 400 yards, so he's one horse that we have to beat."

Fancys First Affair is a perfect four-for-four in her career with her best race being a nose decision over Jess Sass Me in the La Primera Del Ano Derby. Owned by Tom Bradbury and Kim Kessinger, Fancys First Affair has not raced since that April 14 final. Her victory in the La Primera trial was the First Down Dash filly's first effort since she had surgery last year.

"She's in a pretty tough race as well," Bassett said. "The thing about her is that she goes all out every single time. She always wants to run 100 percent."

Bassett noted that the running styles of Blues Girl Too and Fancys First Affair are as different as night and day.


"Blues Girl Too is a very fluid, smooth runner, you can see it in the way she strides over the track," he noted. "Fancys First Affair is the complete opposite. She puts her head down, grits her teeth and hits the ground hard with all her power. She's hard on herself in that way. They're both about the same size, but Blues Girl Too is a little leaner. Fancys has a thicker upper body and that's what makes her hit the track in such strong fashion."

A smooth running champion and a powerful undefeated young filly. It must be really fun to be Joe Bassett.