Obligatory surges in Chilukki Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Obligatory capped a terrific 3-year-old season when powering past her older rivals Saturday in the Grade 3, $300,000 Chilukki Stakes under the Churchill Downs lights.
Settling into a smooth rhythm for Joel Rosario for the long backstretch run in the one-turn mile, Obligatory swept to command with a ferocious outside run inside the furlong pole to win going away. The Juddmonte Farm homebred returned $5 as favorite in a field of seven fillies and mares after finishing in 1:34.80 over a fast track.
“It was a nice way to put the year to an end,” said Juddmonte general manager Garrett O’Rourke, who was on hand.
Obligatory had flashed a similar kick more than six months ago here when upsetting the Grade 2 Eight Belles at 16-1 for her Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott. Since then, the gray Curlin filly had further established herself as a standout miler-type among her class, finishing second in the Grade 1 Acorn and Grade 1 Cotillion while also throwing in a couple of subpar efforts.
But she was back in peak form in her first try versus older horses, notching her third triumph in nine overall starts when finishing 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Matera, who had a neck on Miss Bigly for second.
“I just let her do whatever she wanted and hoped she had something left,” Rosario said. “She really put in a nice run at the end.”
Pass the Plate was well back in fourth and was followed by Sally’s Curlin, She Can’t Sing, and Princess Causeway.
O'Rourke said Obligatory will winter at Payson Park with Mott ahead of a 4-year-old campaign during which a Grade 1 victory will be the primary goal.
The Chilukki was the fourth win of the 11-race card for Rosario, who has enjoyed a tremendous 2021 and will continue to ride here regularly through Nov. 28, closing day of the 21-day fall meet.
The $2 exacta (7-3) paid $18.60, the $1 trifecta (7-3-4) returned $25.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (7-3-4-5) was worth $15.99.
Earlier Saturday, La Crete ($5.20) made a splashy debut when leading throughout a 1 1/16-mile maiden race for 2-year-old fillies, coasting home by 2 1/4 lengths under Rosario. Steve Asmussen, well on his way to a record 25th training title at Churchill, trains the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro and Cavorting for her breeder, Stonestreet Stables.
Racing throughout the September meet and current fall meet at Churchill has been conducted solely on the main track with the turf course having been unavailable due to a total renovation. Six stakes remain and will be run here next week, led by the Grade 1 Clark on Friday.