Ceiling Crusher runs away with Melair Stakes for fourth straight triumph
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ARCADIA, Calif. - The farther she goes, the greater margin of victories for Ceiling Crusher.
After winning her stakes debut in the Evening Jewel Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs for statebred 3-year-old fillies by 15 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on April 8, Ceiling Crusher won Sunday’s $147,000 Melair Stakes for statebred 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles by 17 lengths.
Ceiling Crusher was not urged in the final sixteenth by jockey Juan Hernandez. She finished in 1:44.25 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
“She’s a beast,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.
Ceiling Crusher is undefeated in four starts for the partnership of Wonderland Racing Stables, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff, and Ty Leatherman.
Ceiling Crusher ($2.40) beat three rivals in the Melair Stakes, a field reduced by one runner when Danzing Cat got loose as the field neared the gate.
Hernandez had Ceiling Crusher on the lead shortly after the start and set a moderate pace of 23.46 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.15 for a half-mile, leading by a half-length over 9-1 Chismosa.
The race essentially ended on the turn when Ceiling Crusher pulled away. She led by seven lengths with a furlong remaining.
“Juan said she was there when he called on her,” O’Neill said.
Tom’s Regret (8-1) closed from third in the final strides to finish second, a neck in front of Chismosa. Carole Lombard finished last of four.
Snow Chief recap
Old Pal ran like an old pro to win his stakes debut in the $151,000 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-old statebreds at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Ridden by Hernandez for his third stakes win of the day, Old Pal ($7.40) stayed on the inside throughout and won by three-quarters of a length over 9-2 Clouseau, who set the pace.
Old Pal was timed in 1:50.14 and received a career-best 79 Beyer Figure.
Hernandez has ridden Old Pal in his four career starts, including a third in an allowance race at a mile on turf on April 21. Hernandez said Old Pal was a calmer runner in the Snow Chief than in his last start.
“Last time, he was broke a little sharp and he was a little rank,” Hernadez said.
“Today, he relaxed very well. He came with a nice run. I decided to stay on the rail and he came through.”
Clouseau, third in the Echo Eddie Stakes for statebred sprinters in April, set a slow pace of 24.68 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.57 for a half-mile. He led by a length with a furlong remaining, but could not hold off Old Pal.
Boss Sully, the 8-5 favorite, was second in the stretch, but faded to lose by 1 1/4 lengths.
Be Punctual finished fourth, followed by Upward Mobility, Tom and Jazzy and Hacking It Up.
Hacking It Up was never a factor as the 7-2 third choice, finishing last. Hacking It Up won the Silky Sullivan Stakes for statebred milers on turf at Golden Gate Fields on April 30.
Old Pal, by Grazen, has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $151,160 for a partnership led by Blinkers On Racing Stable. Old Pal, trained by Mark Glatt, was purchased for $160,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton California Yearling Sale.
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