Stilettos gets 76 Beyer for debut romp; Calhoun sending her to Kentucky

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Stilettos turned in one of the top performances by a 2-year-old filly this year on Saturday when she romped by 16 3/4 lengths in a maiden special weight at Lone Star Park.

Stilettos earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 76 for her career debut - a number that’s tied for fourth best among North American-based 2-year-old fillies. It’s the highest Beyer among all 2-year-olds this meet at Lone Star.

Stilettos led throughout in the five-furlong race, covering the distance in 58.24 seconds. Jose Alvarez was aboard for accomplished 2-year-old trainer Bret Calhoun, who said the margin of victory was the largest he’s seen from one of his barn’s young prospects.

“I know we’ve got to temper our enthusiasm a little bit based on I don’t know what she beat, but it’s how she did it, that’s what was impressive,” he said. “I don’t think she ever got out of a gallop. It was just a dominating performance. She was never stressed, pushed, or asked.
“That’s what you like to see. You’ve got to think there’s more in the tank, and more gears. You hope there is.”

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Calhoun said on Monday that Stilettos emerged from the race in excellent condition and would ship later this week to his division at Churchill Downs. She will be joined by workmate Essay, who won his debut by more than two lengths last Friday night at Lone Star.

“They’re going to be moving to Kentucky this weekend,” Calhoun said. “Obviously, I probably won’t be running them for about 30 days, give them about 30 days between races. I’ve looked around a little bit, but we’re not dialed in on anything.

“I need to get them up here and see how they train before I pinpoint anything. There’s multiple options depending on what we think we’re going to do, not just this race, but as a campaign for the rest of the year. That’s going to play into the decision.”

Calhoun said the list of options includes races at Ellis Park, Prairie Meadows, and Saratoga. Both horses were bred in Texas by their owner, Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing.

Stilettos, who defeated open company, is a daughter of Upstart. Her dam, Unspoken Word, won three stakes and earned $370,122 Unspoken Word is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Emotional Kitten.

“The Collinsworths live there close to [Lone Star],” Calhoun said. “They built a farm. They stand Mr Speaker, and they bought the mother of this filly in foal to breed her back to Mr Speaker and that’s how it all kind of came together.”

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