Divine Miss Grey Takes the Prize in Chilukki Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Divine Miss Grey wins the Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs
When she was claimed for $16,000 at Gulfstream Park in March of 2017 by Corms Racing Stable, Divine Miss Grey had started only twice since she broke her maiden to moderate success. But nearly 20 months and 17 starts later, the filly can finally add graded stakes winner to her résumé.
Sent out as the even-money favorite in the Chilukki Stakes (G2) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, Divine Miss Grey made short work of the five-horse field of older fillies and mares and completed the one-mile test in 1:36.64, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Berned.
It was longshot Bixby Lou who took control and set the pace for the half-mile in :47.30 before she faded back to fourth. Pressing the pace Divine Miss Grey shifted four wide as shed entered the turn and took over at the top of the stretch.
Running three wide Berned moved up on the inside, dodged the drifting Shenandoah Queen, and began to gain on Divine Miss Grey, but she was only able to secure second, with Pricedtoperfection another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Shenandoah Queen followed in fourth, with Bixby Lou at the back to round out the field.
Trained by Danny Gargan, Divine Miss Grey entered Saturday's race off a second-place finish in the Oct. 6 Beldame Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. Prior to that start the filly posted wins in the Jan. 15 Interborough Stakes, March 10 Heavenly Prize Invitational Stakes at Aqueduct Ractrack, June 20 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park, and Sept. 8 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx Racing.
Divine Miss Grey was bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones, out of the Friends Lake mare Seattle Grey, and is a full sister to grade 2-placed mare Divine Dawn. Owned in partnership by Corms Racing Stable and R.A. Hill Stable, the 4-year-old daughter of Divine Park was purchased as a yearling for $100,000 by Jim and Susan Hill from the Brereton Jones consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Divine Miss Grey improved her record to 11-5-1 from 22 starts with earnings of $807,672.
Video: Chilukki S. (G2)