Chic Thrill switches to Polytrack for Jammed Lovely
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Chic Thrill will try to keep her unblemished record intact in her Polytrack debut Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Jammed Lovely Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Chic Thrill won her debut in maiden special weight company July 25. She captured her only other start two months later in another turf sprint in front-running style under Eurico Da Silva.
Trainer Malcolm Pierce said he believes Chic Thrill doesn’t need the lead since she was able to stalk and then pounce in her opener.
“I think she’s [rateable],” Pierce said. “Obviously, we try to teach them to rate a little. Last time, I think Eurico thought she was much the best and just let her go.”
Pierce said Chic Thrill, an impeccably bred daughter of Smart Strike, handles the Polytrack beautifully in the morning.
“She works very well on it, and she’s done nothing wrong so far,” Pierce said.
Just four others were entered in the Jammed Lovely, which is race 8 on a 10-race program.
Jammed Lovely, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Chic Thrill (Last 2 Beyers: 81-81)
◗ She is among a host of talented fillies Pierce trains for the powerful Sam-Son Farm.
“I had some very nice 3-year-old fillies this year, and they turned out,” Pierce said. “Southern Ring and Moon Rainbow. There’s no turf left, so we have to try something with Chic Thrill.”
Green Doctor (Last 3 Beyers: 82-69-58)
◗ The 2014 Fanfreluche Stakes winner hasn’t found the mark this year, but she recently was second to Southern Ring after setting a lively pace in the Ruling Angel Stakes. She made her first start with Lasix and blinkers in the six-furlong Ruling Angel, and trainer John LeBlanc Jr. said there were several reasons for her return to form.
“I think we had a proper setup going into it, the proper time in between races,” LeBlanc said. “We were back to her preferred distance, with the right preparation. Before, we were all over the place, trying to pinhole her into races. We squeezed her into spots that weren’t ideal.”
Strong Incentive (Last 3 Beyers: 81-79-70)
◗ After graduating in her penultimate start for $75,000 at Saratoga, the turf specialist ran second in a six-furlong allowance at Belmont for trainer Chad Brown.
Secret Action (Last 3 Beyers: 84-71-72)
◗ She posted a 28-1 upset in the restricted Carotene Stakes on Oct. 12, three weeks after winning another nine-furlong route, a first-level allowance on Polytrack.
Peggy O (Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-61)
◗ Since first getting Lasix, she has won back-to-back allowance sprints with ease.