Ce Ce sprung the upset in the GI Beholder Mile, defeating heavily favored Hard Not to Love. Four wide rounding the first turn, the chestnut stalked from a joint third early as the favorite was hounded on the front end as she set early splits of :22.63 and :45.72. Ranging up outside of Hard Not to Love on the backstretch, Ce Ce drew even entering the far turn and the duo battled halfway down the lane before Ce Ce kicked clear for the win.
A debut winner at Santa Anita Apr. 12, Ce Ce missed by a neck in an Arcadia allowance May 11 and was fourth when stepped up to the big leagues for Belmont's GI Acorn S. June 8. Shelved following that effort, she resurfaced in a Feb. 20 optional claimer here, which she won by 4 1/4 lengths.
Pedigree Notes:
Ce Ce is the 17th Grade I winner, 56th graded winner and 136th black-type winner for her sire Elusive Quality. She is a half-sister to MGSW & GISP millionaire Papa Clem, as well as the dam of MGSW Hot Springs (Uncle Mo). Her dam Miss Houdini is also responsible for the unraced 3-year-old gelding Riggins (Liam's Map) and a yearling colt by American Pharoah. She was bred back to Street Sense last term. This is also the family of champion Good Magic (Curlin).
Saturday, Santa Anita
BEHOLDER MILE S.-GI, $400,500, Santa Anita, 3-14, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:37.33, ft.
1–CE CE, 121, f, 4, 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
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. O-Bo Hirsch, LLC; B-Bo Hirsch LLC (KY); T-Michael W.
McCarthy; J-Victor Espinoza. $240,000. Lifetime Record:
5-3-1-0, $366,600. *1/2 to Papa Clem (Smart Strike), MGSW &
GISP, $1,121,190. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hard Not to Love, 121, f, 4, by Hard Spun
1st Dam: Loving Vindication, by Vindication
2nd Dam: Chimichurri, by Elusive Quality
3rd Dam: Hard Knocker, by Raja Baba
($400,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Mercedes Stables LLC, West
Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo, David
Ingordo & F Steve Mooney; B-Anderson Farms Ont Inc (ON);
T-John A Shirreffs. $80,000.
3–Ollie's Candy, 125, m, 5, by Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Afternoon Stroll, by Stroll
2nd Dam: Gertie, by Danzatore
3rd Dam: Granny Ruth, by Key to the Mint
($45,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP). O/B-Paul & Karen Eggert (KY);
T-John W Sadler. $48,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3 3/4, 3HF. Odds: 4.20, 0.60, 2.60.
Also Ran: Kaydetre, Zusha, Der Lu. Scratched: Mother Mother.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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