Repole Stable’s Chocolate Gelato followed up a very outstanding maiden victory by winning the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies at the Belmont during the Big A autumn meet on Sunday. She did this by using a ground-saving ride under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
On the Frizette, Chocolate Gelato upset next-out winner Take Charge Briana by an 8 1/2-length margin in Chocolate Gelato’s second attempt over six furlongs on August 14 at Saratoga. In the 75th running of the Frizette, a Breeders’ Cup “win and you’re in” qualifying for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 4 at Keeneland, the dark bay daughter of second crop sire Practical Joke demonstrated her ability to stretch out to a one-turn mile. Eight fillies, including last year’s champion Echo Zulu, have won the Frizette-Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies double.
Chocolate Gelato’s Victory Highlights
Ortiz swiftly corrected Chocolate Gelato as it broke inward from post 3 and helped it earn a strong fifth place down the backstretch. New York-bred first-time victor You’re My Girl set frontrunning strategies on the sloppy and sealed main track by covering the first quarter mile in 23.14 seconds and the half mile in 46.90 seconds. Stakes-winner Vedareo was in second place two ways to her outer, while Spinaway (G1) winner Leave No Trace was third, resting in the middle of the pack.
Chocolate Gelato parted away around the far corner and found herself on even terms with You’re My Girl approaching the quarter pole as the two recorded three quarters of a mile in 1:12.66.
Chocolate Gelato took a slender lead at the three-sixteenths pole, but You’re My Girl fought back to the inside and outlasted her adversary the deep stretch. However, there was no sugarcoating Chocolate Gelato, who held off You’re My Girl for a one-length victory in 1:38.57.
You’re My Girl Finishing another 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Leave No Trace, American Rockette, Vedareo, and The Great Maybe completed the order of finish. Raging Sea had been scratched.
Todd Pletcher, a Hall of Fame conditioner, won his fourth Frizette after winning with Adieu in 2005, Devil May Care in 2009, and Dreaming of Julia in 2012. As the 8-5 post time favorite, she paid $5.30 for a $2 win wager.
Pletcher said that the performance gave him faith that his horse is capable of the two-turn trip that awaits her in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and he hailed runner-up You’re My Girl for a courageous effort.
“She settled down and handled the mile well.” “I loved how she turned off, and it gives the sense that two turns are within her range,” Pletcher remarked. “I believe she arrived a little early and waited a little.” (You’re My Girl) didn’t give up, and she’s a lovely filly. She battled back, so I was proud of our filly for hanging in there till the end. That was a good field she defeated.”
Chocolate Gelato’s maneuver around the far bend was effortless, according to Ortiz, who won his first Frizette.
“She was there for me, and she struck the clear and was pushing ahead on her own at the three-eighths pole,” Ortiz said. “She approached the horse in the lead and paused for a while. It’s just her third appearance. She’s still learning, so I had to be a bit more tough with her, but chocolate gelato continued reacting and completed the task.
“I didn’t want to get in her way with the way she moved.” I let her do her thing, and she was already going, so I said, ‘OK, it’s time to leave,’ because I didn’t want to get in her way. I put a lot of faith in her. I ride her with confidence since she’s a wonderful filly. chocolate gelato was there for me when I asked.”
Chocolate Gelato finished third on debut, traveling 5 1/2 furlongs on July 14 at Saratoga, her route to her maiden triumph one month later. Pletcher highlighted how the Saratoga racetrack’s dynamics had altered significantly since the start of the meet.
“Mike (Repole) and I discussed it after the race. That first batch of infants that we ran after the first week at Saratoga. “I don’t believe we anticipated the track being as difficult as it was,” Pletcher remarked. “I don’t believe many of our 2-year-olds were as fit as we imagined.” She’s an excellent example of someone who improved significantly on her second start.”
The trainer of runner-up You’re My Girl, John Terranova, praised his filly for a “game performance” and did not rule out a run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. On Sept. 2 at Saratoga, the Gatsas Stables, R.A. Hill Stable, and Hidden Brook Farm-owned Overanalyze filly won by 14 1/2 lengths against fellow Empire State breds.
“It was her second start in life. Coming back in her second start, she had a tremendous run. Terranova commented, “A really good filly won.” “We’ll speak to the guys and see what everyone wants to do, as well as how she is, and sort it out.”
You’re My Girl also pleased her rider, Joel Rosario, who lauded the filly for her perseverance in her maiden one-mile run.
“She held up extremely nicely,” Rosario added. “She finished a long race. It appeared like the horse was going to run away from me for a split second, but she came back and was battling, so it was a fantastic race for her running far for the first time.”
Chocolate Gelato won $220,000 and increased her career earnings to $290,350 with a 3: 2-0-1 record.
Chocolate Gelato was bred in Kentucky by Vincent Colbert and sold for $475,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select auction in March, when she was consigned by SGV Thoroughbreds. She is by the Candy Ride mare Special Treat and descends from the illustrious matriarchal lineages of Get Lucky, Numbered Account, and La Troienne.
Major Dude wins the Pilgrim and qualifies for the Juvenile Turf
Major Dude of Spendthrift Farm scored a minor upset in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack, holding off odds-on favorite I’m Very Busy to give Pletcher and Ortiz their second straight graded-stakes victory on the day.
In addition to the winner’s portion of the $110,000 prize, which increased his bankroll to $165,250, Major Dude got an expense-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The Pilgrim was a ‘win and you’re in’ event for the Keeneland race on Nov. 4.
Major Dude was making his turf debut in the Pilgrim after previously racing on dirt three times and failing to distinguish himself on the surface. According to OKbet Sportsbook, the $550,000 yearling acquired by Bolt d’Oro won his debut over five furlongs on June 18 at Monmouth Park before placing sixth in the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga and third in the one-mile Sapling at Monmouth Park last out, topping out at a Beyer Speed Figure of 69.
Although the Pilgrim’s connections were uncertain given the tough circumstances, it was clear as soon as the field left the gate that Major Dude’s early pace had translated to the new surface. Movisitor broke fast from post 11 and then surrendered control to Fly Right, who surged through on the rail into the clubhouse turn to seize control. Major Dude sat just off those two, in a great stalking position underneath Ortiz, the meet’s leader.
“You’re always anxious when you’re jogging on unfamiliar terrain,” Pletcher remarked. “We knew he enjoyed it when we exercised him on the grass since it was very solid terrain.” We hoped he’d like (softer ground) today. He always appeared to travel really well.”
Fly Right, led the field via honest fractions of 24.10 seconds for the first quarter-mile, 49.73 seconds for the half, and 1:15.84 for the three-quarters over the yielding outer turf course at Aqueduct. Movisitor raced beside him, while long shot Noble Huntsman raced alongside him. Meanwhile, I’m Very Busy started slowly from position 9 under Flavien Prat and found himself at the back of the field in the early parts of the race.
I’m quite busy. As Major Dude snuck through on the inside into the stretch, things ramped up around the far turn while racing four wide. With full momentum on the outside, I’m Very Busy was set to win comfortably, but Major Dude dug in gamely across the rain-soaked course and rallied back to win by a length. As the 10-1 fourth choice, he ran the distance in 1:46.60 and returned $22.40 on a $2 win wager.
I’m Very Busy, trained by Chad Brown and owned in cooperation with Team Hanley, Richard Schermerhorn, and Paul Braverman, finished second after a less-than-ideal journey. He finished one and a half lengths ahead of Lachaise, who was followed by Noble Huntsman in fourth.
The order of completion was completed by Ramblin’ Wreck, Dataman, Battle of Normandy, Movisitor, Bramble Blaze, Fly Right, and Torigo. Vacation Dance has been canceled.
Coastana provides delivery in Waya
Coastana will attempt a significant victory against excellent company in the 19th edition of the Waya on Sunday after a solid performance in her graded stakes debut (G3).
Coastana, trained by Cherie DeVaux and owned by Belladonna Racing, enters the 1 3/8-mile turf marathon for 3-year-old fillies and mares after finishing an even third in the Flower Bowl (G2) on Sept. 3 at Saratoga.
The 5-year-old dark bay daughter of Kitten’s Joy was a close second to surprise winner Virginia Joy’s slow pace and had direct aim on the leader at the far turn but flattened out in the stretch while being overtaken by War Like Goddess to lose by 1 1/2 lengths.
Coastana, a two-time winner as a four-year-old, broke her maiden at third asking in April 2021 at nine furlongs on the Keeneland grass, defeating future multiple-stakes winner Flippant. She came in second in her maiden race against winners, falling to the next-out, Grade 1-placed Higher Truth.
She won her next race after extending out to the Waya mile in a Saratoga inner turf allowance last summer.
Coastana was bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and is out of the Pulpit mare Reachfortheheavens, giving her a full sister to dual Grade 1 winner Real Solution.
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