One of the most visually impressive performances of the 2021 Keeneland Fall Meet was the dash to victory by California Angel in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2).
Twelfth in a field of 13 at the top of the stretch, California Angel rallied eight-wide in the middle of the track to win by a head and earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar.
California Angel, who is owned by Chris Walsh and trained by George Leonard III, returned to Keeneland Thursday morning for a start in Saturday's 39th running of the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana for 3-year-old fillies to be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.
“We were honored to be invited,” Leonard said of California Angel, who finished third in the Dueling Grounds Oaks (L) going 1 5/16 miles at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 5 in her most recent start.
In the Breeders' Cup going a mile, California Angel drew post 14. She finished 11th but only 4 lengths behind the winner, Pizza Bianca.
“It was a tough day,” Leonard said. “She got bounced around and didn't get a good trip. It was one of those races that you would like to run over and get a whole different outcome.”
California Angel spent the winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans and got a break after running second in the Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial in her return to the grass.
“She had a tough campaign as a 2-year-old and she deserved a little time off,” said Leonard, who did not bring her back to the races for nearly six months.
“I was very pleased with her race at Kentucky Downs. She was bottled up down on the inside and I wish she could have gotten outside a little more.”
Rafael Bejarano, who was aboard California Angel for her first four starts that included the victory here, has the mount Saturday and will break from post one.
“She's trained very well since her last race,” Leonard said. “After this, she will probably go back to Fair Grounds and see how things go.”
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