Ce Ce | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ce Ce Romps in Princess Rooney Title Defense

Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) successfully defended her title in Gulfstream's GII Princess Rooney S. Saturday and stamped her ticket to Keeneland in November to attempt another title defense in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint S.

Heavily favored at 2-5 as the pure class of the field, Ce Ce broke alertly, but was content to track from a two-wide third as Make Mischief (Into Mischief) clicked off an opening quarter in :23.01 and half in :45.46. Charging up two wide to take control exiting the bend, the chestnut sailed clear effortlessly to win as she pleased by 6 1/2 lengths. Spirit Wind (Bahamian Squall) completed the exacta and Make Mischief held third.

“I got kind of lucky the outside horse cleared us and I just stocked the leaders. I didn't want to stay too far back today. I wanted to be close to the pace,” jockey Victor Espinoza said. “I didn't want them to sneak away from me, but at the three-eighths I asked her to go and she went on.”

“I told Victor to just bounce on out of there. I wasn't sure what the filly outside of us was going to do. When she ended up catching a flyer out of there, Victor was content to just let her go and sit outside the speed,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “She did what I expected her to do. Obviously, it's never convenient when you ship all the way across the country, but it's a racetrack that she's fond of. The spacing of the race was great.”

Winner of the GI Apple Blossom H. back in 2020, Ce Ce followed last summer's Rooney win with a third in the GI Ballerina H. at Saratoga and a decisive score in the GIII Chillingsworth S. at Santa Anita in October. She was 6-1 when taking the Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint next out, clinching the Eclipse for top female sprinter. Kicking off this term with a second in the GII Santa Monica S. at Santa Anita Feb. 5, the chestnut beat next-out GI La Troienne S. one-two Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) and Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil)–who came back to win Saturday's GII Fleur de Lis S.–in the GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Mar. 12. Ce Ce was third in this year's Apple Blossom Apr. 23 prior to this race.

Pedigree Notes:
Ce Ce is a half to MGSW & GISP sire Papa Clem (Smart Strike) and SP Magical Victory (Victory Gallop). She is also a full to SP Stradella Road. A daughter of MGISW Magical Maiden (Lord Avie), the winner's dam Miss Houdini's most recent foal is a 3-year-old colt named Native Thunder (American Pharoah). She was bred in all three years since, but failed to get in foal.

Saturday, Gulfstream
PRINCESS ROONEY INVITATIONAL S.-GII, $300,000, Gulfstream, 7-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:22.20, ft.
1–CE CE, 124, m, 6, by Elusive Quality
1st Dam: Miss Houdini (GISW, $187,600), by Belong to Me
2nd Dam: Magical Maiden, by Lord Avie
3rd Dam: Gils Magic, by Magesterial
O/B-Bo Hirsch LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Victor
Espinoza. $174,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 20-10-2-4,
$2,277,100. *1/2 to Papa Clem (Smart Strike), MGSW & GISP,
$1,121,190. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A.
2–Spirit Wind, 116, f, 3, Bahamian Squall–Sacred Psalm, by
Awesome of Course. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Jacks or
Better Farm Inc. (FL); T-Ralph E. Nicks. $58,000.
3–Make Mischief, 120, f, 4, Into Mischief–Speightful Lady, by
Speightstown. ($285,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG). O-Gary Barber;
B-Avanti Stable (NY); T-Mark E. Casse. $29,000.
Margins: 6HF, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 6.50, 5.00.
Also Ran: Corey, Glass Ceiling, Allworthy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG..

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Life Is Good Headlines Star-Studded Saturday of Racing

Holiday weekends are often synonymous with exciting race cards and this Fourth of July weekend is no exception with a dozen graded events on tap Saturday that include some of racing's best. The highlight of the day's action is the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who is making his first start back since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26 in Belmont's GII John A. Nerud S.

A dominant winner of last year's GII Kelso H. and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and this term's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Life Is Good spent some time at WinStar after his return from Dubai and has been breezing steadily at Belmont for Pletcher since Memorial Day weekend. Flavien Prat climbs aboard the fleet-footed bay for the first time Saturday.

“Flavien has proven he rides really well in any occasion,” said Pletcher, who indicated this race is a prep for the GI Whitney S. “There might be some similarities to Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good, but we'll have a talk about the horse a little bit. He's got kind of a quiet touch, so that should suit him well.”

While Life Is Good will certainly be the heavy favorite, there is one member of this five-horse field who could give him a run for his money. Godolphin homebred Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) kicked off 2022 with a trio of seemingly effortless victories in the GIII Fred Hooper S., GII Gulfstream Park Mile and GI Carter H. He received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure for that win, which trumps Life Is Good's best figure of 110 in the Pegasus. The bay enters this off a third-place finish behind unbeaten sensation Flightline in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile June 11 and Jose Ortiz takes over the controls from Junior Alvarado, who will be riding for trainer Bill Mott in Kentucky.

The Nerud certainly looks like a match race between these two formidable foes as Repo Rocks (Tapiture), Harvard (Pioneerof the Nile) and War Tocsin (Violence) are overmatched to say the least.

Also on tap at Belmont Saturday is the GIII Dwyer S. for sophomore colts. The regally bred Charge It (Tapit) looks to rebound in this cutback in trip after a poor effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 17th. The 'TDN Rising Star' was a green, but good second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby in April and the Run for the Roses may have just been too much too soon. You can count on Pletcher to have the colt ready to roll in this softer spot and his back-to-back bullets on the local training track affirm that. With the colt's regular rider Luis Saez at Churchill Downs for Americanrevolution (Constitution), the Hall of Famer calls on his right-hand man John Velazquez to take over the reins.

Chad Brown has an intriguing runner in the Dwyer in Peter Brant's Nabokov (Uncle Mo). The $775,000 KEESEP buy earned his diploma at this oval when extended to two turns last time in his second start May 15.

Cox Holds Strong Hand at Churchill

Churchill Downs also offers a pair of intriguing graded events and Brad Cox has a strong chance to take both. He sends out Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun (Into Mischief)–who is making his first start since a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup–in the GII Stephen Foster H., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event. The colt was promoted to first via DQ in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. last year and crossed the line first in the GIII Louisiana S. in January. Cox also saddles Caddo River (Hard Spun) off a trio of optional claimer scores.

Olympiad | Coady

That pair face some stiff competition from New York in Olympiad (Speightstown) and Americanrevolution (Constitution). The Bill Mott-trained Olympiad is a perfect four-for-four this season, topped by wins in the GIII Mineshaft S., GII New Orleans Classic and GII Alysheba S. Meanwhile, Americanrevolution, who shares the same connections as Life is Good, looks to return to winning ways. Capturing the GI Cigar Mile Dec. 4, the chestnut spent six months on the shelf and was a disappointing fourth in his return in the track-and-trip Blame S. June 4.

The GII Fleur de Lis S. attracted just five distaffers, but two of them are Grade I winners. Cox sends out Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), whose trio of Grade I wins includes the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks. The bay was run down last time by this field's other top-level scorer Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) in this venue's GI La Troienne S. May 6. That Stonestreet homebred ran back in the local Shawnee S. June 4, finishing fourth as the heavy favorite behind She's All Wolfe (Magna Graduate).

Sprinters Star at Gulfstream

Female sprinters get a chance to secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Saturday at Gulfstream in the GII Princess Rooney S., a 'Win and You're In.' Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) won this event last term en route to a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint and she will be heavily favored to defend her title. Winner of the GII Azeri S. earlier this year, the chestnut was third behind champion Letruska (Super Saver) and last-out GI Ogden Phipps S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Her biggest competition will come from claim-to-fame Glass Ceiling (Constitution), winner of the GIII Barbare Fritchie S. and GIII Distaff H. The bay enters off a third to Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 10.

Male sprinters get a chance at graded glory in Hallandale too in the GIII Smile Sprint S. The race will go through GI Woody Stephens S. winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), who makes his first start since finishing seventh in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. Mar. 26.

Delaware & Canada Also Offer Graded Action

Sophomores will be in the spotlight at Delaware Park Saturday with the GIII Delaware Oaks and GIII Kent S. Ruthless S. winner Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) looks like the one to beat. The bay receives Lasix for the first time off a third-place finish in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 9.

The GIII Kent S. features 3-year-old colts on the grass and the likely favorite is Harrell Ventures' Main Event (Bernardini), winner of the Cutler Bay S. He was last seen finishing ninth in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 7. He faces Brad Cox runner Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro), who was second in a trio of listed stakes.

Woodbine hosts four graded events Saturday: the GIII Selene S. for 3-year-old fillies, the GIII Marine S. for sophomore colts, the GII Nassau S. for older fillies and mares, and the GII Highlander S. for older male turf sprinters. Jonathan Thomas could win both the sophomore events with Catiche (Arrogate) in the Selene and Fuerteventura (Summer Front) in the Marine.

Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), winner of this venue's GII Bessarabian S., faces SW & MGSP Crystal Cliffs (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and GSW Plum Ali (First Samurai) in the Nassau. The Highlander is topped by the Wesley Ward-trained Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), a two-time winner of the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland.

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Letruska Joins Elite Company With Apple Blossom Defense

St George Stable's Letruska (Super Saver) added her name to a select group in defense of her title in Saturday's GI Apple Blossom H. at Oaklawn Park, joining the legendary Paseana (Arg), Azeri and Zenyatta as multiple winners of the track's signature event for the dirt distaff set. In winning for a remarkable 19th time in her 25-race career, the 6-year-old reigning Eclipse Award winner held off a late bid from Clairiere (Curlin) and fellow champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), herself an ultra-game winner of this race in the early throes of the COVID-19 outbreak two years ago.

Off as the 9-10 chalk, Letruska came out a bit at the break and bothered Clairiere slightly, but was unchallenged for the early lead and took the quintet into the first turn while charting a course three off the inside in advance of 63-1 Miss Imperial (Maclean's Music).

Allowed to lob them along down the backstretch through a relatively easy half-mile in :47.26, the 6-year-old led the Apple Blossom field into the turn, but soon had to brace for a challenge from Ce Ce, who was niggled along approaching the half-mile marker, but rolled up outside with about 2 1/2 furlongs to travel. In the meantime, last year's GI Cotillion S. heroine Clairiere had quietly crept into contention, followed the move of Ce Ce off the second turn and peeled out with a menacing three-wide challenge of her own in upper stretch. For a few strides, it appeared as if her momentum might carry her by Letruska, but the champ dug in–veering out into the path of Ce Ce, but never causing her to break stride or Victor Espinoza to cease riding–and was home first. Clairiere closed off well for second as the field crossed the wire in odds order.

The 2021 Apple Blossom was a coming-out party of sorts for Letruska, who caught the attention of most racing fans with a nose defeat of multiple champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) after losing the lead at midstretch. From there, the homebred rattled off victories in the GI Odgen Phipps S., the GII Fleur de Lis S., the GI Personal Ensign S. and GI Juddmonte Spinster S., locking up a championship prior to Breeders' Cup Saturday. The bay retreated to beat just one home at Del Mar in November after chasing a suicidal pace, but, kept in training for 2022, resumed with a smooth three-length tally in Gulfstream's GIII Royal Delta S. Feb. 26.

“This horse is different,” said winning trainer Fausto Gutierrez. “To win the Apple Blossom twice is great. This was a handicap and now we're giving weight, you have to remember that.”

Letruska carried top weight of 124 pound, three more than both Clairiere and Ce Ce.

“When we won the Apple Blossom last year, Monomoy [Girl] was giving us weight,” he continued. “All the time I'm nervous with these races. She's come back in good form and now we're thinking about the next race.”

Pedigree Notes:

St George Stables acquired the Grade II-placed Magic Appeal carrying the foal that would become Letruska for $100,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale and has since gone on to become the dam of the late Trigger Warning (Candy Ride {Arg}), a two-time stakes winner and third at cricket-score odds behind McKinzie in the 2018 GI Pennsylvania Derby.

Magic Appeal's now 9-year-old stakes-placed daughter American Doll (Tiznow) is the dam of the Glen Hill Farm's twice-raced 3-year-old filly Wandering (Malibu Moon) and the 2-year-old filly Mischievous Doll (Into Mischief), a $275,000 KEESEP purchase by AMO Racing USA, who breezed three furlongs in :37.40 (9/22) at The Thoroughbred Center Saturday morning.

Letruska's 3-year-old homebred half-brother Ocotzingo (Hard Spun) broke his maiden over the Gulfstream synthetic track Apr. 15, and Magic Appeal is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Prudencio (Arrogate) and a yearling filly by Malibu Moon. The mare was most recently covered by Curlin.

Saturday, Oaklawn Park
APPLE BLOSSOM H.-GI, $980,000, Oaklawn, 4-23, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:42.22, ft.
1–LETRUSKA, 124, m, 6, by Super Saver
1st Dam: Magic Appeal (GSP), by Successful Appeal
2nd Dam: Call Her Magic, by Caller I. D.
3rd Dam: Malibu Magic, by Encino
O/B-St George Stables, LLC (KY); T-Fausto Gutierrez; J-Jose L Ortiz. $600,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo Filly-Mex & Ch. Older Dirt Female-U.S., 25-19-1-1, $2,948,529. *1/2 to Trigger Warning (Candy Ride {Arg}), MSW & GISP, $555,378. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Clairiere, 121, f, 4, by Curlin
1st Dam: Cavorting (MGISW, $2,063,000), by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Promenade Girl, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Promenade Colony, by Pleasant Colony
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $200,000.
3–Ce Ce, 121, m, 6, by Elusive Quality
1st Dam: Miss Houdini (GISW, $187,600), by Belong to Me
2nd Dam: Magical Maiden, by Lord Avie
3rd Dam: Gils Magic, by Magesterial
O/B-Bo Hirsch LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $100,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 17HF. Odds: 0.90, 1.30, 3.90.
Also Ran: Maracuja, Miss Imperial. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Eclipse Champions Clash in Apple Blossom

After the focus on points races for Derby and Oaks contenders taking up headlines over recent weekends, the distaff division gets a match up worthy of the front page as 2021 Eclipse champions Letruska (Super Saver) and Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) meet for the first time in Oaklawn's GI Apple Blossom H.

Both are previous winners of the Hot Springs signature race, as the Fausto Gutierrez-trained Letruksa won the Apple Blossom in 2021 and the Mike McCarthy-conditioned Ce Ce took the 2020 edition. The two have otherwise taken divergent paths, so much so that in spite of twice running on the same card last year, they were in different divisions: on Nov. 6 at Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup, Letruska ran in the GI Distaff and Ce Ce won the GI Filly & Mare Sprint, while on Aug. 28 at Saratoga, Letruska won the GI Personal Ensign and Ce Ce finished third in the GI Ballerina.

In addition to both being previous Apple Blossom winners, both 6-year-old homebred mares were named champions for their outstanding seasons last year. Letruska's 2021 campaign included six graded wins, four of which were Grade Is as she dominated the division for the Older Dirt Female title, and Ce Ce won three graded races, culminating in a powerful Breeders' Cup win that propelled her to Champion Female Sprinter. Both mares have won their most recent starts as Letruska took Gulfstream's Feb. 26 GIII Royal Delta S. and Ce Ce won Oaklawn's Mar. 12 GII Azeri S.

Based on her dominance last year in the division, her proven prowess at two turns, and her devastating speed, Letruska will be the favorite. However, Ce Ce has proven time and time again that she can't be counted out with her tracking and pouncing style. She will also carry an impost three pounds under Letruska's. The latter's connections are looking long term with an end goal of rectifying her Breeders' Cup loss last year.

“The idea is to go back to the Breeders' Cup, especially now that it's on this side the country,” said Gutierrez Thursday. “We have more chances to check what mistakes we had last year and make much better decisions this year. The idea is to run here in the Apple Blossom and maybe three or four more races and try to win the Breeders' Cup. But we need to go step-by-step and now the most important race is the Apple Blossom.”

To add another splash of intrigue to the Apple Blossom field beyond the top two are a pair of Grade I-winning 4-year-olds, who have both signaled they are poised for big 2022 campaigns. Steve Asmussen's Clairiere (Curlin), winner of the 2021 GI Cotillion S. and a constant factor on the board in last year's 3-year-old division, shook off winter rust by tuning up for the Apple Blossom with a huge 6 1/2-length optional allowance score at Fair Grounds Mar. 16. Maracuja (Honor Code), victress of Saratoga's GI Coaching Club American Oaks for trainer Rob Atras, wore down the frontrunner in the stretch of her 2022 debut, an optional allowance over this track and trip Apr. 1.

The short field also has a deserving longshot in Jerry Hollendorfer's Miss Imperial (Maclean's Music), who is a multiple black-type winner at Assiniboia Downs. The former claimer has notched 14 career wins, which is difficult at any level, but she's never run against this type, nor in a graded event. However, her best races have come on the lead and she gets nine pounds from Letruska, so she could very easily change the complexion of the race if she and the champ get into a punishing speed duel.

If either Letruska or Ce Ce prevail, the winner will be just the fourth mare to win the Apple Blossom more than once, joining Paseana (Arg) (Ahmad {Arg}), Azeri (Jade Hunter), and Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}). All three of those mares are in the Hall of Fame.

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