Ceiling Crusher blows the roof off Torrey Pines
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DEL MAR, Calif. – The favorite won the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar, just not the favorite most everyone expected.
Ceiling Crusher, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, was gunned to the front of the dirt mile for 3-year-old fillies, and never looked back. Ceiling Crusher ($6.80) won by six lengths in a race that lost some pizzazz due to the scratch of program favorite Faiza, whose trainer Bob Baffert said he did not like her draw, post 9.
Doug O’Neill trains Ceiling Crusher, and he was fine with the outside draw for Ceiling Crusher. With the scratch of Faiza and Olivia Twist, Ceiling Crusher broke from post 8, and Maldonado rode to O’Neill’s pre-race instructions.
“We did the old, find-the-lead-and-improve-your-position,” O’Neill said, acknowledging that he told Maldonado to use the filly’s speed.
Maldonado cracked the filly after leaving the gate to get her mind on business, she scooted to the lead into the first turn, and that was the end of that. Ceiling Crusher set a quick opening quarter-mile in :22.15, the half in :46.29, six furlongs in 1:11.78 and won in 1:37.41.
The Torrey Pines was the first graded stakes win for Ceiling Crusher, a California-bred by Mr. Big who was racing outside statebred company for the first time in her career. The win erased the disappointment of her odds-on third last out in a statebred sprint.
“Getting her back to two turns, and she drew perfectly,” O’Neill said, explaining her return to form. Ceiling Crusher earned $90,000 and has now earned ow $334,400 winning five of six starts.
Flying Connection rallied inside to loom a threat coming off the final turn, but Ceiling Crusher had more in the tank and drew off. Flying Connection finished3 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Justique.
The order of finish was completed by Coffee in Bed, Ocean Club, Pink Ace, Anywho and Infinite Diamond.
O’Neill did not rule out the Grade 1 Cotillion on Sept. 23 at Parx Racing for her next start, but he insinuated that wheeling her back in three weeks and shipping across the country might not be in in her best interests.
If she stays home, Ceiling Crusher could run against Adare Manor on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares. The last three Torrey Pines winners (Midnight Memories, Private Mission, Harvest Moon) won the Zenyatta in their next start.
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