By Alan Carasso
Making the 33rd start of her career, her 19th in the last two years and ninth of her 5-year-old season, Lothenbach Stables' She Can't Sing (Bernardini) may just be better than ever and earned an extremely valuable first victory at the graded level in the GIII Chilukki S. as the sun began to set on Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon.
A highly impressive allowance victory beneath the Twin Spires last October catapulted the homebred filly into this race, but she beat just one home and hadn't tried the dirt since. A dual stakes winner on the grass at the Fair Grounds last winter, she added the June 22 Lady Canterbury S. in owner Bob Lothenbach's native Minnesota and most recently ran on nicely to finish third behind the classy Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the Ladies' Sprint at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10.
The 7-2 third choice despite a three-for-14 mark on the dirt, She Can't Sing hit the ground running and attended the early fractions of :22.82 and :45.50 while racing between rivals down the long backstretch run. Going noticeably better than her company as they hit the turn, She Can't Sing was allowed to stride into the lead by Brian Hernandez, Jr. fully three furlongs from home, and although the perfect-trip Ice Orchid (Super Saver) took a bit of a run at her in upper stretch, She Can't Sing had plenty more to give and ran out a convincing winner. Liberty M D (Constitution), with the early pace while racing widest of the trio, was a clear third, while favored Coach (Commissioner) never reached contention in fourth.
“This mare has been really consistent on both dirt and turf so I've been able to try a couple of different things with her,” said Chicago-based Chris Block, winning his first graded race at Churchill for the first time since Prado's Sweet Ride (Fort Prado) took the GII Falls City H. almost four years ago to the day. She loves this dirt track. Last year she won an allowance at seven-eighths but ended up having a really tough trip in the Chilukki. So, I decided to make it a goal to get her back for this race. I think we'll see her back next year. She'll head to Fair Grounds after this and get a little bit of a freshening before we start looking at a spring campaign.”
Pedigree Notes:
Already one of 85 stakes winners worldwide for the late Bernardini, She Can't Sing becomes his 52nd winner at the group/graded level and is bred on the exact same cross as future Claiborne stallion and GISW Art Collector and fellow Grade I winner Takaful. She is the 55th worldwide GSW produced by a daughter of the legendary Distorted Humor.
She Can't Sing is first live foal from her dam, purchased by Lothenbach and his team for $190,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September sale. Distorted Music is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' GSP Zinzay (Smart Strike), the dam of SW & GISP Moon Over Miami (Malibu Moon). Things get busier still in the mare's third dam, who produced five-time Grade I winner Music Note (A.P. Indy), responsible for G1 Dubai World Cup-winning 'Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and GSW Gershwin (Distorted Humor); as well as 2003 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GI John C. Mabee H. heroine Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}).
Distorted Music foaled a full-sister to She Can't Sing in 2021 and a colt by Tapit this past February before being bred back to Into Mischief.
Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHILUKKI S.-GIII, $298,500, Churchill Downs, 11-19, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:35.38, ft.
1–SHE CAN'T SING, 121, m, 5, by Bernardini
1st Dam: Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Music Room, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Note Musicale (GB), by Sadler's Wells
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Lothenbach Stables Inc (Bob Lothenbach) (KY); T-Chris M Block; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. $183,450. Lifetime Record: 33-8-6-5, $816,588. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ice Orchid, 118, f, 3, Super Saver–Singlet, by Real Quiet. O/B-Shortleaf Stable Inc (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $59,500.
3–Liberty M D, 121, m, 5, Constitution–Dr. Zic, by Milwaukee Brew. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($6,500 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-CHP Racing; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Ian R Wilkes. $29,750.
Margins: 3 3/4, 2 1/4, 5 1/4. Odds: 3.52, 8.68, 5.92.
Also Ran: Coach, Empire House, Mariah's Princess. Scratched: Center Aisle.
lick for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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