Cilla equals her top Beyer in Orleans triumph
Cilla equaled the best Beyer Speed Figure of her young career on Friday when she darted to a 2 3/4-length win over Icy Charlie in the $75,000 Orleans at Delta Downs.
It was another half-length back in third to Onerollofthedice.
The Orleans was a five-furlong race for fillies and mares.
Cilla was the 3-5 favorite on the strength of her form that included a win in last year’s Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga. She earned an 88 Beyer for that performance, then trumped the number one start later when assigned a 91 for a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland.
Cilla earned a 91 again on Friday, when she covered the distance on a fast track in 58.40 seconds. She was always prominent in the Orleans, tracking the early leaders through an opening quarter in 22.54 seconds. Cilla ($3.20) was ridden by Thomas Pompell, who was aboard for trainer Brett Brinkman.
Brinkman co-bred Cilla with her owner, Dale Ladner. The 4-year-old daughter of California Chrome has now won 6 of 13 starts and has earned $416,000. She’s from the mare Sittin At the Bar, a seven-time stakes winner who earned $705,896.