Temple City’s Tass gets first stakes win in thriller

Tass overcame an outside post and a late charge from Unruly Julie to win the $150,000 Nellie Mae Cox S. on Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs by a nose on the wire (WATCH RACE).

The 6-year-old was making her first stakes start in 14 months, and made the most of it with a very game effort. She broke well from the outside in the field of 10 and made her way into second as they entered the first turn. Mo Clare’s set the pace for seven furlongs before Tass took command just after entering the homestretch. She was up a length with a furlong to go, then dug in gamely to hold off the closing Unruly Julie.

The final time on the firm turf was 1:43.48 for the 1 1/16-miles.

Tass, who is owned by Matthew Schera, now holds a record of 6-2-3 from 21 starts and has earned $306,739. Her stakes-placed dam Masasi is a sister to multiple graded winner Custom for Carlos and stakes winner Mimi’s Bling. The winner was bred by Spendthrift Farm.

Tass is the 10^th stakes winner this year for Temple City. Two of those black type winners, Another Mystery and Temple, are entered in stakes on Saturday at Kentucky Downs.Tass overcame an outside post and a late charge from Unruly Julie to win the $150,000 Nellie Mae Cox S. on Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs