Big Pond gives owner birthday surprise with Fleet Treat win
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The undefeated filly Big Pond gave owner and breeder George Krikorian an unexpected 78th birthday present with a win in Thursday’s $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes at Del Mar.
Big Pond stalked the pace and held off a threat from Chismosa to win the seven-furlong race for 3-year-old California-bred fillies by a length in her second start and first against winners.
Big Pond ($9.80) beat a field that included the previously undefeated Ceiling Crusher, who was sent off at 3-10 and could only finish third after a troubled start.
“It was a nice surprise,” Krikorian said of the win. “She’d only run once. I thought the Ceiling Crusher would be tough to beat.”
Trained by Tim Yakteen, Big Pond won her debut in a maiden race for statebred fillies at Santa Anita in June. Big Pond is by Krikorian’s stallion, Mr. Big, who is among the state’s leading sires.
Ceiling Crusher was beaten for the first time in her fifth start. After bumping with a rival at the start and again early in the race, Ceiling Crusher did not produce the rally that led to two springtime stakes wins by a combined 32 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita.
“She didn’t have the cleanest trip,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.
Prior to the Fleet Treat, Ceiling Crusher was considered a candidate for the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes, a $1 million for 3-year-old fillies at Parx Racing Sept. 23. O’Neill said those plans are on hold, pending discussions with the partnership that owns Ceiling Crusher.
“That’s not as solid as it was before the race,” he said.
O’Neill mentioned the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks, a $750,000 race for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs in West Virginia Aug. 25, as a possibility.
The Fleet Treat win was part of a big week for Krikorian, who owns a chain of movie theaters. Business has been strong at movie houses in the last week with the release of the popular films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”
“It’s great to see so many people come back” to theaters, Krikorian said.
As for Krikorian, he has yet to see the films.
“I will over the weekend,” he said. “I haven’t had a chance yet with my schedule.”
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