ARCADIA, Calif. – Two-time Grade I winner Ce Ce returns to Santa Anita and heads Sunday’s Grade III, $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 I, seven-furlong Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 28. A 5-year-old mare by Elusive Quality out of the Grade I winning Miss Houdini, Cee Ce drew off to a 3 ¼ length win going seven furlongs two starts back in the Grade II Princess Ray Stakes at Gulfstream Park July 3.
A winner of four of seven starts at Santa Anita, including a Grade I 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 III 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.
The Grade III Chillingworth Stakes with jockeys & weights in post position order
Race 5 of 10, Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT
1. Proud Emma—Mike Smith—126
2. Scotish Star—Flavien Prat—126
3. Eyes Open—Geovanni Franco—122
4. On Deck—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
5. Ce Ce—Victor Espinoza—126
6. 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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Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Office
Photo: Ce Ce, (Benoit)
