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Speightster filly Sizzling and Sultry makes all beneath Ricardo Santana Jr. to win the Chilukki (G2) in her comeback
JoAnn and Alex Leblong’s 4-year-old filly Sizzling and Sultry returned from a 196-day layoff to blitz seven different fillies in mares with a front-running eight-length win in Saturday’s thirty eighth operating of the $295,000 Chilukki (G3) at Churchill Downs.
After a swift first quarter mile in :23.03 and a half-mile in :45.88 whereas breaking from the surface publish 8, Sizzling and Sultry clocked one mile over a quick observe in 1:35.93 beneath jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., who rode the winner for coach Norm Casse.
“She broke fairly good and he or she’s a really quick filly,” stated Santana, who additionally gained the Chilukki three years in the past aboard Finite. “We went fast early, however she was doing it very simply. She’s a really good filly.”
The victory was the filly’s second stakes win however first in opposition to graded stakes firm. In January, she gained the American Magnificence at Oaklawn Park. After that she completed fourth within the Azeri (G2), third within the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), and fourth within the Derby Metropolis Distaff (G1) on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard earlier than Sizzling and Sultry obtained a 28-week break between races.
“I used to be just a little anxious right now,” Casse stated. “This actually wasn’t the primary plan. We knew going the one-turn mile at Churchill is all the time just a little tougher off the layoff. This was a tricky race however it was just a little bit of sophistication aid from her final begin within the Derby Metropolis Distaff.
Sizzling and Sultry banked the $180,350 first prize within the Chilukki and rewarded her backers with $6.20 for the win because the 2-1 favourite.
Nostalgic, ridden by Florent Geroux, completed second, and Oeuvre was one other nostril again in third at 7-1 beneath Jareth Loveberry.
Falconet was fourth and was adopted by final yr’s Chilukki winner She Cannot Sing, Be Like Water, Braganza, and Hidden Connection. Raindrops On Roses was scratched.
Total, Sizzling and Sultry has gained 4 of 9 begins and $590,320.
A return to Oaklawn for stakes engagements this winter is probably going, in accordance with Casse.
“The Lieblongs are based mostly in Arkansas, so Oaklawn might be the following logical spot to finish up together with her,” Casse stated.
Sizzling and Sultry is a darkish bay or brown daughter of Speightster out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Sizzling Water and was bred in Kentucky by Cobalt Investments LLC. Supplied within the Bluewater Gross sales consignment on the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, she was bought for $475,000.
Often called the Churchill Downs Distaff from 1996-2004, the Chilukki was renamed in 2005 to honor Stonerside Steady’s graded stakes-winning filly. The daughter of Cherokee Run made 4 begins at Churchill Downs, all of which have been victories. Chilukki gained the 2000 version of this race in what could be her remaining begin with a remaining time of 1:33.57 – a observe document on the time.
