By J.N. Campbell
Coming out of the chute at Churchill Downs in the GIII Chilukki Stakes, Two Sharp (Twirling Candy–Double Sharp, by Distorted Humor) had a singular mission ahead as she stretched her legs on the one-turn mile dirt course–make the front. The 3-year-old accomplished that task in spectacular fashion and cruised home for her first black-type and graded stakes score amid what continues to be a promising career at the races.
The $925,000 Keeneland September grad taken home by Richard Rigney was named a 'TDN Rising Star' at second asking when she absolutely demolished a field of four others by 11 1/4 lengths in upstate New York Aug. 2. Her next start in the GIII Prioress Stakes at the Spa was a street fight as she lost by a neck to GISW Brightwork (Outwork). The bay was last seen sprinting successfully by 6 1/4 lengths to clear an allowance condition at Keeneland Oct. 12.
Fitted with blinkers for the first time, the 4-5 choice here powered out of the blocks and literally ran the field off their feet. To the tune of :22.86 for the first quarter-mile and a brisk :44.86 for the half, Two Sharp made every pole a winning one. The Phil Bauer trainee entered the stretch with more to give as she poured gasoline on the fire. Royal Spa (Violence)–back 5 3/4 lengths in the end–was second. The final running time of 1:34.40 now stands as the second fastest clocking of the race, which is only eclipsed by none other than Chilukki (Cherokee Run) herself in 2000 when it was called the GII Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap.
“She's been a filly we always had high regards for,” Phil Bauer said. “In each of her four prior starts she's run very well and continues to improve each time. We added a small cup set of blinkers today to just keep her a little more focused. They looked like they did the job down the lane. You could tell down the backside Junior [Alvarado] was just letting her go at her own pace and she was opening up on the field. She showed us there was no issues handling the mile distance and maybe could get a little further one day if she keeps running like that.”
Owner Richard Rigney said concerning Two Sharp's next intended start in the GI La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Dec. 26, “This race set her great to try that next.”
Pedigree Notes:
This is the 22nd graded stakes winner and 56th black-type win for Twirling Candy (by Candy Ride {Arg}). The Chilukki heroine is the first to the races and the last registered foal on record for her dam, who was acquired by Woods Edge Farm for $255,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale while in foal to Frosted. Two Sharp's second dam, MGSW Bsharpsonata (Pulpit), is a half-sister to MGSW Backtalk (Smarty Jones). Both are out of SW Apasionata Sonata (Affirmed), herself a Keeneland November buy for $1.5 million in 2008.
Two Sharp and @JuniorandKellyA go gate-to-wire in the G3 Chilukki Stakes! pic.twitter.com/VWRgL7TwBe
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 23, 2024
Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHILUKKI S.-GIII, $297,500, Churchill Downs, 11-23, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:34.40, ft.
1–TWO SHARP, 118, f, 3, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Double Sharp, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Bsharpsonata, by Pulpit
3rd Dam: Apasionata Sonata, by Affirmed
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($925,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Rigney Racing LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY); T-Philip A Bauer; J-Junior Alvarado. $180,350. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, $366,698. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Royal Spa, 121, f, 4, Violence–Bodacious Babe, by Mineshaft. 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. O-Breffni Farm; B-Breffni Farm (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. $58,500.
3–Taxed, 121, f, 4, Collected–Yankee Union, by Yankee Gentleman. ($27,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $105,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Richard Bahde; B-Brereton C Jones (KY); T-Randy L Morse. $29,250.
Margins: 5 3/4, 2 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.97, 8.45, 8.09.
Also Ran: Oeuvre, Positano Sunset, Pigalle, Fancy, Imonra.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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