Coco as in Chanel scores 16-1 upset in Stormy Blues Stakes

Coco as in Chanel, who improved dramatically when she tried sprinting on turf following three dull races on dirt, followed up her impressive maiden victory by scoring a front-running victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Pimlico.

Ridden for the first time by Angel Cruz, Coco as in Chanel ($34.20) led throughout Saturday’s five-furlong turf sprint through fractions of 22.19 and 45.33 seconds. Despite drifting out badly in midstretch, she finished a length ahead of European import Elegant Supermodel, the 2-1 favorite, completing the distance in 57.15 seconds. Hidden Treat rallied mildly to get third, a half-length behind the runner-up.

Coco as in Chanel, a daughter of Awesome Again trained by Tom Proctor for Heider Family Stables, is now 2 for 5 with earnings of $84,370.

“She was sharp warming up,” Cruz said. “I did what the trainer told me to do,” by going for the lead. “Every time the other horse [Elegant Supermodel] got close, she kept fighting and never quit.”

The two disappointments in the race were Ramblin N Gamblin and Do What I Say, both of whom were 2 for 2 on turf prior to Saturday. Do What I Say finished seventh at 5-2 and Ramblin N Gamblin was last of nine at 2-1.