Ce Ce bounces back with Chillingworth Stakes triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ce Ce will arrive at Keeneland for the final start of her career in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint the same way she arrived at Del Mar a year ago before winning the same race – off a decisive victory at Santa Anita.

Ce Ce ($2.60) cruised Sunday in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes for fillies and mares, winning the sprint by 2 1/4 lengths over Under the Stars. The win by Ce Ce negated her double-digit loss last out as favorite in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga.

Back home at Santa Anita, the 6-year-old mare returned to form with her second win in the Chillingworth for trainer Michael McCarthy, owner-breeder Bo Hirsch and jockey Victor Espinoza.

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“We led her over here today thinking she was as good as she was this time last year,” McCarthy said, adding that her last start “was just too bad to be true.”

Ce Ce raced fourth behind the speed on Sunday, rallied wide and ran away in a solid 1:16.36 for 6 1/2 furlongs. Her time compares favorably to her 1:16.00 win in the 2021 Chillingworth. Third-place finisher Teddy’s Barino bled and was vanned off. Scenic Masterpiece and Cover Version completed the order of finish.

The win was the 11th from 22 starts for Ce Ce, a multiple Grade 1 winner who could have retired last fall after winning the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Owner-breeder Hirsch weighed his options, and opted to race her one final year in 2022.

“At my age, it’s more important to find more fun than more money,” 73-year-old Hirsch said. “If it was a business decision, you obviously would have retired her.

“But this business, you don’t get in just for the money. You get in it for the fun of it and you hope the money comes along. (Ce Ce) has been paying the bills for the last few years.”

Ce Ce has earned $2,397,100. She will be among the favorites to add to the bankroll in the final start of her career on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Hirsch confirmed he and McCarthy agree the BC Filly and Mare Sprint will be the final start of her career. “Yes, we made that decision,” Hirsch said.

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