Chanteline Speeds to Victory in Smart N Fancy
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Chanteline wins the Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga
Ten Broeck Farm's Chanteline added a third stakes victory to her résumé Aug. 26, sailing past the wire three lengths ahead of Girls Know Best to win the Smart N Fancy Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga Race Course turf.
Breaking from post 2 under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., Chanteline was hustled to the front of the 12-horse field and settled in fourth. In command from the gate was Girls Know Best, who maintained a comfortable two-length advantage and was still in front when the field hit the top of the stretch.
Just off the inside as they headed for home, Chanteline dug in to run down Girls Know Best and collared her with a sixteenth to go. Edging clear with a kick to the wire, Chanteline completed the sprint in 1:00.85. Girls Know Best held for second, followed by Morticia a head behind to complete the trifecta.
"She's an amazing filly," Santana said. "She ran really hard last time and didn't really like the soft turf. Today, she ran an amazing race. She's improving every time and doing good. We had a lot of confidence in her today, and she ran when we asked.
"She's grown a lot, and as she's gotten older, she's doing better, and now it looks like she really loves the turf."
The win was the third of the season for the 6-year-old daughter of Majesticperfection who posted a 1 1/4-length dirt score in the March 3 Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn Park and a 2 3/4-length win in a June 18 allowance over grass at Parx Racing. Chanteline entered the Smart N Fancy off a second-place run in the Caress Stakes over the same 5 1/2-furlong distance.
"She's gotten really good," said Scott Blasi, assistant to Chanteline's trainer, Steve Asmussen.
"The race at Parx, she just kind of broke out a little more," Blasi said. "I don't think she really loved the soft ground last time, and she still ran second. I'm really impressed with her."
Chanteline returned $11.60, $6.40, and $4.40 across the board.
Tragically, LNJ Foxwoods' Bowie suffered a catastrophic breakdown tossing jockey Julien Leparoux over her head. Leparoux quickly righted himself and took charge of the filly. Unfortunately, the 4-year-old fan favorite was euthanized.
Bred in Kentucky by former Kentucky Gov. Brereton C. Jones out of the unraced Indian Charlie mare Listen to Libby, Chanteline is a half sister to stakes winner Kell Paso, by Divine Park. Originally owned by Regis Racing, Chanteline was consigned by Three Chimneys Farm to the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where she was purchased for $200,000 by Ben McElroy, as agent.
Chanteline holds an 8-7-3 record from 25 starts, with earnings of $524,972.