Chancery Way will have company up front in Bear Fan Stakes

Since Chancery Way recorded a 10-1 upset in the Bear Fan Stakes at Golden Gate Fields last December, she has become established as one of the better California-bred fillies and mares.

Stakes wins in Sacramento and Del Mar since July have helped her reputation. On Saturday, Chancery Way is back in the $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs and will be favored to win her fourth stakes.

Owned by Andy and Rob Smolich, the speedy Chancery Way is expected to be part of the pace in a field of seven, along with Baby Kristen, who drew the inside post, and Tamara Wine, who starts from post 5.

Chancery Way, the mount of Evin Roman, will start from post 3, which trainer Jamey Thomas considers an advantage.

“You figure the one-horse is going to go,” Thomas said. “We’ve got the better post position. She can be right there in front of the one or be somewhere up close, if not on the lead.”

Chancery Way has led throughout her six wins in 11 starts. On occasion in sprints, the pace has been too quick and Chancery Way has been caught. In a few races, she set the pace in a one-mile race and was caught late.

Thomas thinks Chancery Way’s class should help against Baby Kristen, who won a starter allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 25 at Golden Gate Fields. Tamara Wine led throughout a $32,000 claimer at six furlongs on Nov. 5.

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“To me, this is a little bit different,” Thomas said. “There is some speed in there, but this isn’t the speed she has been going with. This is not the caliber filly that has been heading her.”

Chancery Way won for the first time in Southern California in her third career start on the circuit in the Betty Grable Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at seven furlongs on Nov. 12 at Del Mar. Making her first start since late August, Chancery Way led throughout to win by 3 3/4 lengths.

“She ran a great race,” Thomas said. “She made an easy lead. When they turned for home, she kicked in and drew away from them.”

To win the Bear Fan, Chancery Way must prevail in a potential speed duel and hold off an expected late threat from Tam’s Little Angel.

Trained by Steve Specht, Tam’s Little Angel was the easy winner of an allowance race at a mile by 5 1/4 lengths on Nov. 18 at Golden Gate Fields, ending a 13-race losing streak since June 2022. Tam’s Little Angel was third in the 2022 Bear Fan, her last start in a stakes for sprinters in Northern California.

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