Two-time Grade 1 winner Ce Ce returns to Santa Anita and heads Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes as a field of six fillies and mares three and up go 6 ½ furlongs. The Chllingworth is named for the late Sherwood C. Chillingworth, a highly respected longtime director and Executive Vice President of the Oak Tree Racing Association, which conducted a fall meeting at Santa Anita from 1969 through 2009.
Owned and bred by Bo Hirsch, Ce Ce is trained by Michael McCarthy and comes off a third place finish behind superstar Gamine in the Grade 1, seven furlong Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 28. A 5-year-old mare by Elusive Quality out of the Grade 1 winning Miss Houdini, Cee Ce drew off to a 3 ¼ length win going seven furlongs two starts back in the Grade 2 Princess Ray Stakes at Gulfstream Park July 3.
A winner of four of seven starts at Santa Anita, including a Grade 1 tally in last year's Beholder Mile, Ce Ce, who will again be ridden by Victor Espinoza, should appreciate a return to the home front and softer company. With six wins from 14 overall starts, she has earnings of $1,173,100.
Second, beaten one length in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap going 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 20 at Del Mar, Peter Miller's Proud Emma appears well spotted in what will be her third consecutive sprint. Owned Gem Inc. and Tom Kagele, this 5-year-old mare by Include seeks her second graded stakes victory.
Kaleem Shah's California-bred Bella Vita, who earned a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure in taking a 6 ½ furlong allowance in open company by 4 ½ lengths on Aug. 29, draws the far outside with Juan Hernandez up and rates a big look for trainer Simon Callaghan.
GRADE III CHILLINGWORTH STAKES
WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 5 of 10 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT
- Proud Emma—Mike Smith—126
- Scotish Star—Flavien Prat—126
- Eyes Open—Geovanni Franco—122
- On Deck—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
- Ce Ce—Victor Espinoza—126
- Bella Vita—Juan Hernandez–124
The Chillingworth is one of five stakes on a 10-race card with first post time at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
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