Chi Chi has big Beyer advantage in Juvenile Fillies Sprint

Chi Chi and Big Effect will both have to overcome the rail post when they start as chief contenders in separate 2-year-old stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Big Effect breaks from the fence in the $60,000 Juvenile Sprint.

“I always hate the rail going short,” said trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.

Chi Chi starts from the inside in the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint.

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“You always hope you’re not standing in the gate that long when you’re in the one-hole,” said Sam Wilensky, assistant to his father, trainer Herman Wilensky.

The stakes will be run over 6 1/2 furlongs, and each is restricted to horses bred in Florida. The card includes the $60,000 Awesome Banner, an overnight handicap for 3-year-olds led by co-highweights West Coast Cowboy and Dreaming of Kona.

Chi Chi will be a short-priced favorite in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint after winning at the distance in the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial on Sept. 24 at Remington Park. The Beyer Speed Figure of 81 that she earned is at least 23 points higher than each of the last-race numbers put up by her rivals. Chi Chi had shipped to the Oklahoma City track off a fourth-place finish in a maiden special weight turf sprint Sept. 8 at Del Mar.

“I was extremely impressed with her race,” said Sam Wilensky. “I thought it was going to be a little tough to go six and a half furlongs off a quick turnaround and off the ship.

“If she can repeat that, I think she can win this race.”

Chi Chi’s numerical advantage on Beyer Figures could be matched on the scale, too. She weighed in at 1,100 pounds for the Gaylord.

“She’s a big girl,” said Sam Wilensky. “She doesn’t look like a 2-year-old filly by any means. And it seems like she’s growing.”

Chi Chi is a daughter of Audible and a half-sister to Grade 2 Fountain of Youth winner Simplification. She is making her first start at Gulfstream, which is the home base for the Wilensky stable. Edwin Gonzalez has the mount for Ernest Frohboese.

The chief threat could be Epona’s Hope. The debut winner is coming off a close third-place finish in the Desert Vixen division of the Florida Sire Stakes on Sept. 9 at Gulfstream. She did not advance to the Susan’s Girl division in October.

“Epona’s Hope had a little bit of a mucus problem that we had a hard time getting rid of,” Plesa said. “It’s cleared up 110 percent. I worked her a mile and she worked well. I worked her short after that. I’ve got my fingers crossed. I think she could be sitting on her best performance.”

Epona’s Hope has a license to be a runner as the daughter of Adios Charlie and a mare by Trippi brought $295,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales auction of 2-year-olds in training in March.

“I’ve had a couple of her brothers,” Plesa said. “I always liked that line. I’m excited about her.”

Paco Lopez has the mount on Epona’s Hope from post 5 in the field of seven Saturday.

Big Effect also is part of a field of seven for the Juvenile Sprint. He could go off as the third choice behind Saint No More and General Ledger. The three horses exit the same first-level allowance Oct. 6 at Gulfstream, with Big Effect finishing third behind those rivals, beaten two lengths in his first start in over five weeks. He set the pace after breaking on top.

“I had given him a little time off,” Plesa said. “He might have gotten a little tired, was not quite as tight as he needed to be.”

Big Effect was favored in his career debut and finished second by a neck to the undefeated Bentornato, who next month will be seeking to sweep the Florida Sire Stakes. Big Effect came back and won his maiden by more than six lengths in his second start in July at Gulfstream.

“He showed a tremendous ability his first two races,” Plesa said. “I always felt his first race he should have won, but looking back, the horse that beat him is something out of the ordinary. We were inexperienced, got caught at the wire. He came back and validated himself in that second start.”

Lopez has the mount on Big Effect.

◗ West Coast Cowboy is returning to Gulfstream for the Awesome Banner, which will be run over seven furlongs. The last time he raced on the local main track he won a first-level allowance at a mile. West Coast Cowboy hit the road for stakes following the start, finishing second in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby and ninth last out in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby.

West Coast Cowboy is co-highweighted at 122 pounds with Dreaming of Kona, winner of the $79,000 Tom Ridge Stakes in June at Presque Isle.

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