Ce Ce Runs Down Gamine in BC Filly & Mare Sprint

Horse ownership has brought Bo Hirsch to Cloud Nine, but for one Breeders' Cup moment the afternoon of Nov. 6, he said he reached "Cloud Million." His 5-year-old homebred mare Ce Ce  put him there in defeating longshot Edgeway  and favored Gamine  in the $860,000 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

He wasn't alone in his excitement. The victory gave jockey Victor Espinoza his first Breeders' victory since Zayat Stables' American Pharoah's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) win in 2015. And, for trainer Michael McCarthy, her win punctuated a memorable 2021 that included a Preakness Stakes (G1) victory from John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer .

Flanked by Espinoza and McCarthy in a post-race press conference, Hirsch showered them with praise.

"This guy over here," he said, turning to 49-year-old Espinoza, "is like a fine wine. He just improves with age. And I love him. He's the best.

"And this guy over here," he added, gesturing toward McCarthy, "(has) done such a wonderful job with Ce Ce getting her to just continue to improve, and he knows when to lay her up for a period of time and when to come back, and he just did a remarkable job.

And if you can find a trainer out there that works harder than he does, I promise that person is on a day that's longer than 24 hours."

As for Ce Ce, the chestnut mare shined Saturday in her 16th start, just as she has on so many other occasions, such as when she won the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) and Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) in 2020. Fourth or five early, she swooped in action late on the turn, reeling in the leaders before midstretch and motoring away for a 2 1/2-length victory.

After rating off fractions of :22.31 and :44.92 set by defending champion Gamine under pressure from Bella Sophia, Ce Ce hit the six-furlong marker in front in 1:08.66 before stopping the clock with a final time of 1:21 for seven furlongs. She returned $14.40 as the third choice.

Gamine, the reigning champion female sprinter, lost a one-turn race for the first time in nine such starts. She was hampered by pace pressure, jockey John Velazquez said.

"When you go that fast early, it's hard to keep up the whole way around when you are pressed all the time," he said. "At the quarter pole, I thought she was going to have it, but as soon as I moved my hands and she didn't respond the way I thought, I knew I was in trouble."

As he typically does when riding Gamine, Velazquez kept a tight hold of her left rein to limit from drifting, though she still veered off the inside Saturday, allowing Edgeway under Joel Rosario to dart through to engage the two leaders on the turn. It gave Edgeway a ground-saving advantage over a wide-rallying Ce Ce, but it wasn't enough. 

Espinoza's fourth Breeders' Cup victory came at a track where a morning-training accident nearly ended his career. In the summer of 2018 at Del Mar, he fractured his C3 vertebra in a one-horse spill. He resumed riding seven months later after a challenging recovery.

KING: Espinoza, 'Close to Being Paralyzed,' Rides Three in BC

"Yeah, my career's been up and down, but nevertheless, I've been down below, and I never gave up," said the 49-year-old Espinoza. "And sometimes you hit the ground, but no matter how hard we hit it, when you stand up, you stand up big."

McCarthy commended Espinoza's placement of Ce Ce and grew excited when he had her in gear, picking up the leaders. Once she took the lead in midstretch, McCarthy was able to enjoy the moment.

"I was kind of watching Bo, kind of watching her, and inside the sixteenth pole, I think I spent more time watching Bo," he said.

McCarthy did more than watch. "He gave me a kiss," Hirsch said.

Ce Ce's victory was worth $520,000 and increased her earnings to $1,753,100 with a record of 8-1-3. 

She is a third-generation success for Hirsch and his family. His late father, Clement Hirsch, was a longtime breeder and owner that helped found the Oak Tree Racing Association and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. 

Bred in Kentucky, Ce Ce is out of the Belong to Me  mare Miss Houdini , who captured the 2002 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) for trainer Warren Stute. Now 21, Miss Houdini has produced three other black-type runners, including two-time graded stakes winner Papa Clem  (Smart Strike ). Her last reported foal is an unraced American Pharoah 2-year-old colt named Native Thunder , and she was reported bred to Midnight Lute   for 2021.

Ce Ce became the third Breeders' Cup winner for Elusive Quality  after siring 2007 Filly & Mare Sprint winner Maryfield  and 2008 Classic winner Raven's Pass .

Bo Hirsch isn't inclined to have Ce Ce become a broodmare next year.

"Well, at my stage in life I want more fun than money, and as long as she wants to run ... we're going to run for a while," he said.