by Myra Lewyn

Jacks or Better Farm’s accomplished turf performer Bayou’s Lassie earned her first stakes win on dirt when she narrowly prevailed in a spirited stretch duel with pacesetter Amazing Speed in the $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap (G3) on Saturday at Calder Race Course.

The four-year-old Outflanker filly had not visited the winner’s circle in four starts since edging J’ray by a head in the Frances A. Genter Stakes (G3) on turf on December 30, 2006. She entered the Stage Door Betty off a close second-place finish to that foe in the My Charmer Handicap (G3) on turf on December 1 at the Miami track.

Amazing Speed set a pressured pace in the Stage Door Betty as Bayou’s Lassie was rated in fourth on the inside, less than 1 ½ lengths back, through a moderate half-mile in :48.89.

Jockey Elvis Trujillo guided Bayou’s Lassie to the outside coming out of the final turn and she closed to within a head of Amazing Speed in early stretch before wearing her down in their match race to win by a neck.

Bayou’s Lassie covered the 1 1/16 mile distance in 1:46.16 on a fast track.

“We had to fight hard in the stretch, but she is competitive and she knows how to win,” Trujillo said of Bayou’s Lassie, the 2-to-1 favorite.

Cindy’s Mom closed from fifth in early stretch to finish third, 1 ¼ lengths behind Amazing Speed.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Bayou’s Lassie improved her record to seven wins in 13 career starts, including two turf stakes wins at Calder, while boosting her lifetime bankroll to $469,574.

Florida-bred Bayou’s Lassie, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Midas Eyes, is out of the Bayou Hebert mare Bayou Plans.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor