Jolie the Cat pounces on Tiffany Lass

JOLIE THE CAT (Tale of the Cat) was an easy front-running winner of Fair Grounds' $98,000 Tiffany Lass S., the sophomore fillies' counterpart to the Lecomte S. (G3). Run at a mile on Saturday, the two tests highlighted a six-stakes card billed as "Road to the Derby" Kickoff day at the New Orleans oval.

With James Graham in the saddle, Jolie the Cat quickly moved to the front, setting splits of :24 3/5 and :48 4/5 before being challenged by Tizaqueena (Tiznow) around the second turn. Kicking into another gear, the Steve Asmussen trainee pulled away from her rival to be 2 1/2 lengths clear at the line while stopping the teletimer in 1:38 2/5 on the fast main track.

"As soon as she relaxes, you can do anything you want with her," Graham said. "She's very game. She's not very big, but she has a big heart."

Tizaqueena tracked in second throughout, holding that spot at the wire by 1 1/2 lengths over Highest Class (Mineshaft). Diamondaire (Distorted Humor) followed by another 2 1/2 lengths in fourth, then came Syriana's Song (Indian Charlie), Timely Reflection (Yankee Victor) and Alina (Came Home).

Jolie the Cat is out of multiple stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Pleasant Jolie (Pleasant Colony), making her a half-sister to the dam of multiple Grade 1 victor and $1.8 million earner Southern Image (Halo's Image). With this victory, the dark bay lass boasts a 4-2-0-2 mark, having broken her maiden by 2 1/2 lengths over this track on December 7, with $94,400 in career earnings. She is campaigned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and JMJ Racing Stable.