Chancery Way tries to stay unbeaten in Moscow Burning Stakes

Long before her first start last June, the filly Chancery Way caught the attention of trainer Jamey Thomas at Golden Gate Fields.

Thomas’s mother, Ruby, was the first trainer of Chancery Way, who displayed promising workouts in early 2022. Ruby and Jamey Thomas discussed a sale, finally settling on a private deal.

For Jamey Thomas, Chancery Way has won her first four starts and will have her 2023 debut in Saturday’s $75,000 Moscow Burning Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile at Golden Gate Fields.

“I knew she was a good filly,” Thomas said. “I didn’t think she was this good.”

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To gain an entry in the Moscow Burning, Chancery Way was supplemented on Wednesday for $25,000 to the Golden State series of stakes for California-breds for the rest of her career.

The winner’s share in the Moscow Burning is $42,750. If successful, the 4-year-old Chancery Way would immediately pay a hefty dividend to owners Andy and Rob Smolich.

By Mr. Big, Chancery Way has set the pace in her four starts, including an allowance race at a mile at Sacramento in July and a 10-1 upset in the Bear Fan Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs on Dec. 10.

The allowance race at a mile was Chancery Way’s third start in seven weeks and resulted in a late-summer vacation.

“She ran well that day,” Thomas said. “She has such a big heart and she dug in to win.

“She was a little tired and got a little thin on us. I think I asked too much, too soon. We gave her time to mature a little bit and she rewarded us.”

In the Moscow Burning Stakes, Chancery Way is the only confirmed front-runner in a field of eight.

Also in the field are Tam’s Little Angel, who led throughout the She’s a Tiger Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Pleasanton last June, and Rose Maddox, who was second in the Melair Stakes for statebred 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita last June.

Tam’s Little Angel closed well despite a wide trip to finish third in the Bear Fan Stakes and was fourth against a tougher field in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for statebreds on the hillside turf course Jan. 7 at Santa Anita.

While the distance of the Moscow Burning is a slight concern for Thomas, Chancery Way’s condition is not an issue. Last Saturday, Chancery Way worked five furlongs in 1:00.40, a strong time on the synthetic main track.

“She worked absolutely awesome,” he said. “A horse happened to break off in front of her. She ran the horse down and galloped out really well.”

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