Ce Ce, the magnificent 6-year-old Bo Hirsch homebred daughter of Elusive Quality, brought Ce ce A game on Sunday at Santa Anita, when she impressively maintained her championship in the Grade 3, $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes.
Ce ce’s Victory
Ce ce won by 2 1/4 lengths, and her connections looked for a repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on November 5 at Keeneland.
“I’m really pleased to ride her in the Breeders’ Cup for the second time,” winning jockey Victor Espinoza said. “I was really proud of her and how she ran today.”
The reigning Eclipse champion female sprinter, trained by Michael McCarthy, ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.36.
Ce Ce, who trailed Teddy’s Barino, Under the Stars, and Scenic Masterpiece to the half-mile post, was put down at the seven-sixteenths pole, angled four deep exiting the quarter pole, and seized command going for home in a great effort under Espinoza.
“She ran her race, and that’s all I want of her,” added Espinoza. “It doesn’t matter what happens during the race; as long as she does her best, everything will be OK, and that’s exactly what occurred here today.” She’s usually excellent; Ce ce is a pro. Ce ce may be a bit choosy, and if the track isn’t her thing, she won’t produce, like ce ce did in the previous race at Saratoga.”
McCarthy replied, “I knew you could put a line through that last one.” “I believe she is just as excellent as she was last year.” I knew the Saratoga race was too good to be true. Ce ce was in excellent shape. Ce ce was in the number one hole when she got dirt in her face. I now see why Saratoga is known as the “Champion’s Graveyard.” This was an excellent preparation for the Breeders’ Cup.”
Despite finishing seventh as the 3-2 favorite over seven furlongs in the Ballerina Handicap (G1) on Aug. 28 at Saratoga, Ce Ce was crushed in the tote, going off as the 1-5 favorite among five fillies and mares 3 and up and returning $2.60, $2.20, and $2.10.
Ce Ce won her sixth graded-stakes race, and 11th in 22 runs, out of Hirsch’s Grade 1-winning Belong to Me mare Miss Houdini. Her profits totaled $2,357,100 after receiving the $60,000 winner’s prize.
Under the Stars, the third choice under Juan Hernandez, stayed the course late and finished 3 1/2 lengths ahead of early leader Teddy’s Barino, paying $3.60 and $2.10 after starting at 9-2. Teddy’s Barino, the second choice at 3-1 with Mike Smith, earned $2.10 to show.
The race’s fractions were 22.38, 44.96, and 1:09.55.
Midnight Memories wins the Zenyatta Stakes
Midnight Memories, ridden aggressively by Ramon Vazquez, pressured dueling leaders Awake at Midnyte and Soothsay from the half-mile pole, spun three wide going for home, and marched to a 3 1/4-length triumph in the Zenyatta Stakes on Sunday (G2).
Midnight Memories, trained by Bob Baffert, ran the 1 1/16 mile in 1:45.07 and will most likely be assigned to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Midnight Memories, a gate-to-wire winner of the Torrey Pines (G3) at one mile on Sept. 4 at Del Mar, broke free off the furlong pole in what seemed to be her strongest run to date. She started as the 8-5 favorite among five fillies and mares 3 and up, and paid $5.20, $2.60, and $2.10.
The 3-year-old filly by Mastery out of the Midnight Lute mare Tiz Midnight, owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, earned $120,000 for the victory, bringing her earnings to $286,680.
For the most of the journey, Awake battled for the lead. At Midnyte, Mario Gutierrez kept the lead, finishing a neck ahead of an onrushing Empire House.
Awake at 9 a.m. Midnyte charged $2.40 and $2.20. Empire House, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, recovered from last to narrowly miss second money and earned $3.20 to show after going off at 23-1.
The race’s fractions were 24.16, 48.26, 1:11.97, and 1:38.21.
Speed Boat Beach wins a trip to Keeneland and a Speakeasy
Speed Boat Beach, a lights-out maiden winner on dirt, tested grass and proved best, overcoming an uncomfortable start to win by 1 1/4 lengths under Juan Hernandez.
Speed Boat Beach, trained by Bob Baffert, ran five furlongs on grass in 55.25 seconds.
Speed Boat Beach earned a fee-paid place in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 4 thanks to the Speakeasy, a Breeders’ Cup “win and you’re in” qualification.
Speed Boat Beach got swiftly into stride from his outside post position, trailing long shot Helladic and Tyler Baze through the turn before busting away a sixteenth of a mile out.
Speed Boat Beach, a 2-year-old colt by Baffert’s 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Sophia Mia, was the overwhelming 2-5 favorite in a field of nine and paid $2.80, $2.40, and $2.20.
Heywoods Beach performs well in the Tokyo City Cup
Despite being by famous sprinter Speightstown, 5-year-old Heywoods Beach favors marathon lengths, as proven by his decisive, neck win in the $100,000 Tokyo City Cup (G3) over 1 1/2 miles on the main track.
Heywoods Beach, trained by John Sadler and ridden flawlessly by Ramon Vazquez, completed the journey in 2:31.98.
Heywoods Beach finished around 1 1/2 lengths behind the leader after a backstretch start. Storm the Court the first time beneath the wire and on the run to the far turn.
Heywoods Beach was on terms with favorite Tizamagician heading for home and steadily inched clear through the lane while fighting off a late charge from long shot Win the Day three furlongs from home.
Heywoods Beach upset Tizamagician in the Cougar II (G3) at 1 1/2 miles on dirt two races ago, after being heavily beaten on grass in the Del Mar Handicap (G2) on Sept. 3.
The second option The winner, owned by Hronis Racing, paid $9.00, $4.60, and $2.80 in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up on Sunday at 7-2.
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