Melair Stakes sensible next step for unbeaten Ceiling Crusher

Ceiling Crusher was so dominant in the Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita last month that it would not have been a surprise for her to have been sent out of state for a graded stakes.

That may yet happen, but for now Ceiling Crusher remains at Santa Anita where she will be a short-priced favorite to extend her unbeaten streak to four races in Sunday’s $150,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old statebred fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

It is not as if bigger races have not crossed the minds of the partnership that owns Ceiling Crusher – Wonderland Racing, Todd Cady, Ty Leatherman, and Tim Kasparoff.

“She’s owned by a conservative group,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “They like the idea of keeping her with Cal-breds.”

Ceiling Crusher won the Evening Jewel Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs by 15 1/2 lengths as the 3-10 favorite. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, who has the mount on Sunday, Ceiling Crusher disputed the early pace and pulled away in early stretch. She had a seven-length advantage with a furlong remaining.

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The Melair Stakes, which drew only five runners, will be Ceiling Crusher’s first start around two turns.

“She’s very gifted,” O’Neill said. “She’s got a lot of speed and she seems like she’s got the stamina to carry two turns.”

If a challenge develops, it is likely to come from the stakes winners Carole Lombard or Tom’s Regret, though either would have to improve considerably to produce an upset.

Carole Lombard closed from last of six to win the Campanile Stakes for statebred fillies at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on April 30.

Tom’s Regret won the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at five furlongs at Churchill Downs in May 2022. Tom’s Regret is winless in three starts this year, but finished well to be second by a neck in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course on May 6.

The Melair Stakes is the fifth race on a 10-race program for statebreds at Santa Anita that includes the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf, the eighth race. The seven runners in the Snow Chief will be starting at the distance for the first time.

Hacking It Up won the Silky Sullivan Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on April 30. Hacking It Up was gelded in December and has won both his starts on turf this year.

“He’s a different horse since we gelded him,” trainer George Papaprodromou said. “He ran a great race last time at Golden Gate Fields.”

The Snow Chief should have a solid pace. Clouseau, the winner of a one-mile allowance race on dirt against older statebreds on May 5, is quick enough to lead, as is Boss Sully, who was second to Catalina Eddy in an allowance race at a mile on turf on April 21.

Catalina Eddy will miss the Snow Chief Stakes because of a “minor issue,” trainer Craig Lewis said on Friday.

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