David Cassidy on the Web
Sweet Vendetta takes Susan
May 17, 2008
By Sandra McKee
Sun reporter
www.baltimoresun.com
Sweet Vendetta, under the urging of her jockey, Channing Hill, rallied from next to last to close with a rush to the inside of Shes All Eltish and win the Grade II, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Owned by Team Penney Racing and David Cassidy (the 1970s teen heartthrob from The Partridge Family), Sweet Vendetta won her third race in her past four tries.
"I loved the mile and an eighth for her," her trainer, Gary Contessa, said after his horse finished the course in 1:49.60. "She was training up a storm. I know she's a natural at this distance. She's almost 17 hands and has that big loping stride.
"I thought this was a good fit. And when the heavens opened up last night, that added more icing to the cake. We know she loves the mud."
Sweet Vendetta, also bred by Cassidy, a horseman for 30 years, paid $17.40, $8.40 and $5.20.
I was 25 years old when I started," Cassidy said. "But I've had a passion for horses since I was born. I owned my first horse, a riding horse, at 15."
Cassidy is evidently a pretty good historian, too, telling the crowd in the winner's circle that Hill's dad, Alan, rode My Juliet to victory in the 1975 Black-Eyed Susan.
The favorite, Bsharpsonata, trained by Tim Salzman, was in third after the first quarter-mile before suddenly backing up and finishing last.
Salzman, looking very concerned for his horse, had little to say after the race.
"We have no excuses," he said before hustling off after his horse.
