Incredible Revenge a turf test for Cilla

Cilla’s first turf try over the Monmouth Park grass course didn’t go so well, but her second one, on Sunday in the $100,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes, should turn out much better.

Cilla is one of 11 fillies and mares in the Incredible Revenge, carded for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Brett Brinkman, who trains Cilla and co-bred her with owner P. Dale Ladner, said Cilla starts Sunday even if the race is rained onto dirt. But despite the fact Cilla has been a dirt sprinter – a very good one, at that – Brinkman is looking to try his horse on grass.

Cilla has run on turf just that once, and while she was just ninth in that race, the Sorority Stakes two summers ago, she was racing over a two-turn trip farther than her best while connections were still figuring out what they had in the filly.

“I really want to see her sprinting on grass,” said Brinkman. “When she ran in the Sorority she wasn’t the confident filly she is now. It was a mile, and it was just a spot we chose when there really wasn’t anywhere else to go. She did show us enough to make us think we could try it again.”

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Cilla’s brother Jack the Umpire was a solid grass performer in Louisiana, and her sire, California Chrome, often imparts turf ability to his offspring. Cilla’s high-water mark came dirt sprinting, when she won the Grade 2 Prioress last year. She’s winless in three starts this spring and summer, but Brinkman belives Cilla is the same horse. “We probably ran her one too many times in Louisiana, and she kind of got out of her rhythm. I thought she had a little bad luck at Delaware last time, and I feel good about getting her back in her rhythm,” he said.

Trainer Wesley Ward said he’ll scratch one of his entrants Illegal Smile, and go with Red Ghost. Only one of Red Ghost’s eight starts, the Untapable Stakes in September 2020 at Kentucky Downs, came on turf, and Red Ghost ran poorly in it. Ward has an excuse.

“She was coming off a big win and I shipped her on short rest from Keeneland. Firing right back was too much for a 2-year-old to handle. I was really upset at myself. She’s always breezed great on turf,” Ward said.

Honey Pants, in from Belmont for trainer Christophe Clement, rates a strong chance. She finished fast for second June 22 at Monmouth in the Goldwood Stakes, and that race’s third-place finisher, Robin Sparkles, returned to win the Grade 3 Caress at Saratoga.