Connections 'circle the Breeders’ Cup' for emerging star Ce Ce
Ce Ce, winner of Saturday’s Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares, was scheduled to van back to Southern California on Sunday afternoon, trainer Mike McCarthy relayed in a text message Sunday morning, adding she came out of her narrow victory over Ollie’s Candy in “great” shape physically.
Ce Ce, after breaking from post 14 under Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza, collared Ollie’s Candy in the shadow of the wire to win the 1 1/16-mile race by a head for California breeder/owner Bo Hirsch. Ce Ce is a half-sister to 2009 Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem, who was also bred and campaigned by Hirsch.
Ce Ce is unbeaten in three starts this year, including the Beholder Mile (G1) March 14 at Santa Anita. McCarthy said the year-end goal for Ce Ce is the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Getting there, McCarthy indicated after the Apple Blossom, is tricky since racing nationally has been disrupted because of COVID-19.
“We’ll have to see what happens here,” McCarthy said. “Obviously, it would be nice to go ahead and circle the Breeders’ Cup. Hopefully, everything gets back to the new normal again.”
Trainer John Sadler, a runner-up with Flagstaff in Saturday's Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) before Ollie's Candy was nipped at the wire in the Apple Blossom, was "thrilled" with the latter performance, which came in a front-running effort.
"I thought she ran great," Sadler said of Ollie's Candy. "The instructions to (jockey) Joel (Rosario) were to just not waste the post (post 1). His hands weren’t tied. He did what he had to do to get into position. I was a little surprised they went that fast, but I’m very pleased with the effort. This race has been in the plans all along.”
Apple Blossom third-place finisher Point of Honor was scheduled to return Sunday to her south Florida base, trainer George Weaver said Sunday morning. Point of Honor was beaten 2 ¼ lengths after breaking last and racing six-wide on the second turn.
“She didn’t break well and got sandwiched out of there,” Weaver said. “ She was a little farther back than she needed to be. It was a tough race. There were a bunch of good fillies in there. There were five Grade 1 winners."