Chatalas shakes loose for the Chandelier win (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Race Is a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In’ Challenge Race Qualifier
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— In her first time around two turns, Chatalas broke running from her rail post position and although pressed through solid fractions, she was able to shake loose from Dua in deep stretch and prevailed by 1 ½ lengths over New York invader Scalable in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita.
The Chandelier is a Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race Qualifier, enabling Chatalas to earn a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Trained by Mark Glatt and ridden for the first time by Antonio Fresu, Scalable, a bay filly by Gun Runner, Chatalas got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:44.28.
A first-out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar July 30, Chatalas was then a well beaten fourth by budding superstar Tamara in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante Sept. 9.
Off at 3-1 in her third start today, she paid $8.20, $5.80 and $3.80.
Owned by breeder Dan Agnew and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, Chatalas, who is out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Safari, picked up $120,000 for the win to run her earnings to $187,200.
Fifth in her seven-furlong debut at Saratoga Sept. 3, Todd Pletcher’s Scalable was about six lengths off the winner three furlongs out and rallied nicely for the place under Mike Smith.
Off at 8-1, Scalable paid $9.40 and $5.80.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Dua pressed the winner throughout and paid a price, finishing third, a neck behind Scalable. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, she was off at 5-1 and paid $4.40.
Fractions on the race were 23.69, 47.97, 1:11.88 and 1:37.55.
GRADE II, $200,000 CHANDELIER STAKES
Jockey Quotes
Antonio Fresu, Chatalas, Winner: “I breezed the filly once a couple of months ago. I liked her at that time. Mark (Glatt) brought her into this in perfect shape. We talked in the paddock and the plan was to sit right behind the leaders. But we agreed if nobody goes, then I could. She broke well and I had the advantage of the rail. She relaxed really well in front. When I asked her to kick, she was still kind of immature, she was waiting for someone to come. But the last eighth, she changed gears and won impressively.
“I still had a lot of horse underneath me. I liked the way she galloped out. I think she will stay all day long. She has a good frame of mind. In the post parade she was really quiet, really relaxed, like she was going out to train in the morning.”
Trainer Quotes
Mark Glatt, Chatalas, Winner: “We’ve always thought the further she went the better she would be. A little disappointed with the Debutante performance, but I look back on it and she was fairly close to .44 fractions and that’s just not her. We knew she would have pretty good speed going two turns and she did kind of everything her own way, she broke sharp and had a relatively comfortable lead, Fresu rode her great.”
Owner Quotes
Dan Agnew, Part-Owner/Breeder, Chatalas, Winner: “Cloud nine now that would describe it. Especially with a homebred like this, it is a great thrill and Mark’s done a great job with the filly. The man that was on the farm said, ‘This is one I think you ought to keep, and I think he was right.’“I think the way Gun Runner has proven a great sire to both fillies and colts was a big reason I decided to keep her and race her. On to the Breeders’ Cup, we hope that she comes out well and we are looking forward to it.”
