Debutante Winner Grace Adler Tops Field Of Seven In Friday’s Chandelier

A runaway winner of her lone Grade 1 assignment to date, Bob Baffert's Grace Adler heads a field of seven two-year fillies going a mile and one sixteenth in the Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita this Friday. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the Chandelier winner will earn a fees-paid berth to the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

A heavily favored first-out maiden winner going five furlongs July 31, Grace Adler, a $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase purchase, came back to blitz seven rivals going seven furlongs at odds of 4-1 in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Sept. 5, thus cementing her role as the Chandelier favorite.

Owned by Willow Grace Farm and Michael Lund Petersen, Grace Adler has rallied from off the pace in both of her wins and seems well suited to the stretch-out in distance with regular rider Flavien Prat back aboard. Out of the Newfoundland mare Our Khrysty, she's banked $222,000.

Second to Grace Adler in the Del Mar Debutante, trainer Mark Glatt's Dance to the Music was a runaway 4 ¾ length first-out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs and will retain the services of Abel Cedillo. Owned by Red Baron's Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, Dance to the Music, a Kentucky-bred filly by Maclean's Music, was purchased for $575,000 out of the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training this past April.

Baffert will also be represented by Censorship, who is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. Although winless in three starts, she stumbled badly leaving the gate as the even money favorite in her most recent assignment, a one mile maiden race on Aug. 26, finishing second, beaten 4 ¼ lengths by Desert Dawn, who she'll again face on Friday.

Trainer Phil D'Amato will be sending out a three talented fillies in the Chandelier, headed by Elm Drive, who was a game head winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes two starts back on Aug. 6 and who comes off a disappointing seventh following a rough start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Elm Drive won her first start going five furlongs by eight lengths and earned a lofty 85 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Sorrento. She'll try two turns for the first time and be ridden for the fourth consecutive time by Juan Hernandez.

D'Amato's Desert Dawn rallied nicely under Ricky Gonzalez to break her maiden in what was her second start at odds of 6-1. With the one mile win to her credit, this Arizona-bred filly by Cupid is owned by her breeders, the H & E Ranch.

D'Amato will also saddle first-out winner Ain't Easy, who pressed the early pace and opened up through the lane to win going 5 ½ furlongs by 5 ¼ lengths on Aug. 21 at Del Mar. A $400,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Ain't Easy, who was dismissed at 8-1 in her debut, is owned by Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC, Michael Lombardi and Joey Platts.

THE GRADE 2 CHANDELIER STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

  1. Electric Ride—Joe Bravo—122
  2. Ain't Easy—Joel Rosario–122
  3. Dance to the Music—Abel Cedillo—122
  4. Grace Adler—Flavien Prat—122
  5. Desert Dawn—Ricky Gonzalez—122
  6. Elm Drive—Juan Hernandez—122
  7. Censorship—John Velazquez–122

The Chandelier is one of four stakes on Friday's opening day program. For additional information, please visit Santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Snapper Sinclair To Try Down The Hill In Friday’s Eddie D Stakes

The long wait is over. Idle since March of 2019, Santa Anita's legendary Camino Real Hillside Turf Course will play host to an outstanding opening day field of nine three-year-olds and up competing at about six and a half furlongs in Friday's Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes. The Eddie D is one of four stakes on opening day of Santa Anita's 16-day Autumn Meet which will conclude on Oct. 31. Trainer Steve Asmussen's Midwest invader Snapper Sinclair and Phil D'Amato's locally based Gregorian Chant head what appears to be a very deep and diverse lineup.

One of the most popular races among fans and horsemen since December, 1953, the Camino Real hillside is a European style course with a panoramic start on Santa Anita's northern perimeter, hard by Colorado Place, an iconic stretch of roadway that was a part of America's original Route 66.

Once the horses are underway, they will negotiate a slight right-hand turn followed by a run “down the dip,” as Joe Hernandez, the original Voice of Santa Anita, used to describe horses as they ran down an undulating swale before emerging from behind a stand of trees en route to the quarter pole. From there, the field will cross the main track and then reunite with the “course proper” for what is often a thrilling stretch run.

Snapper Sinclair, a 6-year-old full horse by City Zip, comes off a three quarter length victory in a one-turn restricted stakes going a mile and 70 yards on turf at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8. Owned by Bloom Racing Stables, LLC, Snapper Sinclair, who ran fourth in 2019 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita, will be shipping in from his Churchill Downs base and be trying the Santa Anita turf for the first time and will be making his fifth start of the year.

Primarily campaigned at one mile on turf and dirt, Snapper Sinclair was a seven furlong turf stakes winner in his third career start on Sept. 6, 2017 at Churchill and he has not sprinted on turf or dirt since October 17, 2018 at Keeneland. With two wins from four starts this year, he's now banked $1,793,340 from an overall mark of 33-7-8-4.

Originally pegged as a long-fused turf runner, D'Amato's Gregorian Chant found a new lease on life sprinting out of Santa Anita's newly constructed turf chute this past winter. A winner of three consecutive six furlong turf stakes, including the Grade 3 San Simeon four starts back on March 13, Gregorian Chant, a 5-year-old English-bred gelding, was too close to the early pace in Belmont Park's Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes on June 5, finishing seventh, beaten 4 ¼ lengths at 5-1 going six furlongs over a turf that was listed as good.

In his most recent start, Gregorian Chant finished third, beaten 2 ½ lengths in Del Mar's five furlong turf Green Flash Handicap Aug. 22, a race that appeared a bit short for his late running style. Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC and Michael Nentwig, Gregorian Chant will be trying Santa Anita's hillside turf for the first time with high expectations.

D'Amato will also be represented by the talented multiple stakes winning mare Charmaine's Mia, the lone distaffer in the field. A three-time graded stakes winner at six furlongs and one mile (twice) over the Santa Anita lawn, she too will be trying the hillside course for the first time. Owned by Agave Racing Stable, Medallion Racing and Rockin Robin Racing Stables, Charmaine's Mia, who had been campaigned primarily at Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto, joined D'Amato's stable late last year.

Idle since finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at a mile and one sixteenth at Del Mar Aug. 7, Charmaine's Mia, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by The Factor, has not sprinted since winning her first start for D'Amato five starts back in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes at six furlongs on turf here on Jan. 9.

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Although a bit long in tooth at age seven, trainer Mark Glatt's Law Abidin Citizen, idle since a close fourth on dirt in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes July 31 at Del Mar, is fresh, dangerous and has the distinction of having won the last race down the hill—the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on March 31, 2019. A winner of four of eight starts over the hillside turf, this Twirling Candy gelding will be making his fourth start of the year as Glatt eyes the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November. Owned by Dan Agnew, Gerry Schneider and John Xitco, Law Abidin Citizen rates a huge chance on Friday.

Glen Hill Farm's homebred Caribou Club, another 7-year-old gelding, has won two of his three starts down the hill, including his most recent, the Grade 3 Joe Hernandez Stakes on Jan. 1, 2019 when conditioned by Tom Proctor. Idle since a close fourth in an ungraded stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf July 17 at Gulfstream Park, Caribou Club will be making his fourth start of the year and his first for trainer Michael McCarthy. Caribou Club will be reunited for the first since 2017 with Drayden Van Dyke, who at that time guided him to a pair of wins from four starts.

Originally run as the Morvich Handicap in 1974, the Eddie D was renamed in 2012 to honor legendary retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye.

THE GRADE 2 EDDIE D STAKES WITH JOCKEY & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

  1. Gregorian Chant—Juan Hernandez–126
  2. Caribou Club—Drayden Van Dyke—126
  3. Mesut—Umberto Rispoli—122
  4. Charmaine's Mia—Flavien Prat—123
  5. Law Abidin Citizen—Abel Cedillo—126
  6. Chaos Theory—Kent Desormeaux—126
  7. Lieutenant Dan—Geovanni Franco—126
  8. Whisper Not—John Velazquez—126
  9. Snapper Sinclair—Joel Rosario–124

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Army Mule Filly on Top in Book 5 Opener

With Wednesday's Keeneland September Book 5 opener winding down, Maddie Matt Miller, agent, went to a session-topping $250,000 to secure a filly from the first crop of Army Mule.

Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, as Hip 3158, the chestnut is out of six-time winner Henny's Hurricane (Henny Hughes), a daughter of GSW Amarillo (Crafty Prospector). Hip 3158 is a half-sister to Amynta (Atreides), a multiple stakes winner in Panama. She was bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings.

The Hill 'n' Dale stallion, standing for $7,500, has also been represented by a $390,000 colt, a $225,000 colt, a $180,000 colt, et al, at Keeneland September. Army Mule has had 15 yearlings sell for $1.766 million at KEESEP, good for an average of $117,733. He had a pair of $400,000 sellers at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga as well.

A total of 325 yearlings sold at Keeneland Wednesday for $12,929,500, good for an average of $39,783 (+55%) and a median of $30,000 (+100%). The RNA rate for the session was a remarkable 9.2%.

During the 2020 Book 5 opener, conducted during the pre-vaccine pandemic, 252 yearlings grossed $6,469,100 for an average of $25,671 and a median of $15,000. The RNA rate was 18.2%.

With two sessions remaining, Keeneland has sold a total of 2,125 horses through the ring for $339,691,500, for an average of $159,855 (+25%) and a median of $90,000 (+45.2%).

John Oxley led all buyers at Wednesday's session, purchasing five yearlings for $382,000. Leading consignor Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 29 horses for $1,279,000.

Glatt Strikes for Arrogate Colt

Southern California-based trainer Mark Glatt, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, brought home a son of the late Arrogate for $230,000–the top price paid for a colt–during Wednesday's Book 5 opener at Keeneland September.

The richest North American racehorse in history was humanely euthanized last June at Juddmonte Farms after suffering from an undetermined illness. He currently has two winners from his first crop. Arrogate was also represented by colts that brought $550,000, $500,000, $360,000, etc, earlier in the sale.

Consigned by Woods Edge Farm (Peter O'Callaghan), agent, Hip 3004 is the first foal out of Wicked Lick (Maclean's Music), runner-up in the 2017 GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Barry and Judith Becker purchased Wicked Lick, carrying Hip 3004, for $350,000 at the 2019 KEENOV sale. She subsequently brought $450,000 from Aaron and Marie Jones, in foal to Into Mischief, at the 2021 KEEJAN sale.

“He was a very nice, athletic-looking horse with a lot of size and scope,” Glatt said. “He's bred to have some speed on the bottom side being out of a Maclean's Music mare. He's a very nice individual. Arrogate was a very outstanding horse. He had a good weekend a couple of weeks ago–maybe a little bit later, developing kind of horses. If he hits, it could be a very good thing since there's not going to be very many of them out there.”

Glatt also signed for an $85,000 Runhappy filly (Hip 3015) from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment Wednesday.

“The business seems to be very healthy,” Glatt said. “The numbers don't lie. It makes buying these horses a little tough– you obviously want to buy them for as cheap as you can. But it shows the business is healthy right now and that certainly isn't a bad thing.”

McPeek Continues to Reload

Trainer Ken McPeek continued his Keeneland September shopping spree, purchasing five yearlings, as agent, for a total of $317,000 during Wednesday's session, the second-highest amount spent on the day.

His purchases included:

Throughout the first nine days of trade, McPeek has signed for 23 head for a gross of $2.467 million ($107,261 average), led by a $250,000 Practical Joke filly (Hip 1946).

“We've been cherry picking some horses out of there the last several days and it seems like we're averaging five or six a day– it's been good,” McPeek said. “It's been a lot of work, I'm glad the market has softened from the early books. I've got a lot of really good clients that have given us a budget to work with and we've been fortunate enough to acquire what we wanted.

Of his Wednesday purchases, McPeek said, “I was real pleased with the Mendelssohn colt that we bought. The Shaman Ghost was a beautiful filly. The Tamarkuz was a filly that looked quite fast. Overall, it was good.”

No stranger to finding value at KEESEP, McPeek's honor roll is led by Hall of Famer and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike, $57,000 in 2005); and last year's champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil, $35,000).

“I bought my first Derby horse Tejano Run out of Book 7 [for $20,000],” McPeek concluded. “We don't assume anything.”

 

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Army Mule Filly Records Wednesday’s Highest Price At Keeneland September Sale

Maddie Matt Miller, agent, paid the session-topping price of $250,000 for a filly by Army Mule during Wednesday's ninth day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Out of the winning Henny Hughes mare Henny's Hurricane, the filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Amynta. She was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent.

A total of 325 yearlings sold Wednesday for $12,929,500, for an average of $39,783 and a median of $30,000. With two sessions remaining, Keeneland has sold a total of 2,125 horses through the ring for $339,691,500, for an average of $159,855 and a median of $90,000.

Mark Glatt, agent went to $230,000 for a colt by Arrogate out of Grade 2-placed Wicked Lick, by Maclean's Music to be the day's second highest price. Woods Edge Farm, agent, consigned the colt, who is from the family of Grade 2 winners Noble Moon and Silver Music.

Jerry Crawford for Donegal Racing purchased a colt by Noble Mission (GB) for $155,000. Out of the winning Smart Strike mare Clever Run, he is from the family of Grade 2 winner Chamrousse. Lane's End, agent, consigned the colt.

John Oxley paid $150,000 for a colt by Cross Traffic from the family of Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly. Consigned by Mulholland Farm, agent, he is out of the Super Saver mare Summer Place.

With five purchases for $382,000, Oxley was the session's leading buyer.

A filly by Violence from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Emollient sold for $140,000 to Gerry O'Meara, agent for Frank Bertolino. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the filly, the first foal of the Malibu Moon mare Turning Tide.

Two yearlings sold for $135,000 apiece.

Clear Ridge Stables purchased a colt by Maclean's Music from the family of Grade 1 winner Sweet Talker. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, he is out of winner Keep the Magic, by Malibu Moon.

Little Hound went to $135,000 to acquire a colt by Malibu Moon from the family of champion Queena. Out of the Empire Maker mare Lost Empire, he was consigned by Denali Stud, agent. His family also includes Grade 2 winner Chief Havoc and Grade 3 winner La Reina.

Leading consignor Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 29 horses for $1,279,000.

The September Sale continues tomorrow and runs through Friday. All sessions begin at 10 a.m. ET.

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