Triple Chelsea beats Defending Champion Lady Auriela In Giants Causeway
Brad Grady's Triple Chelsea, sent off at odds of 8-1, upset the 3-5 favorite Lady Aurelia in Saturday's $100,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland. A 5-year-old daughter of Hat Trick, the mare completed 5 1/2 furlongs over the firm turf in 1:02.40, defeating Lady Aurelia by almost two lengths. Triple Chelsea was ridden by Adam Beschizza for trainer Joe Sharp.
“The race panned out beautifully,” Beschizza. “She's definitely a filly that likes to be in a nice stalking position and we were following the right horses into the final eighth. It was just a question of (rousing) her.”
Triple Chelsea took advantage of a duel between Lady Aurelia and Morticia and rushed past in deep stretch to post a 1½-length victory over Lady Aurelia with Morticia finishing another length back in third.
Morticia wrested the early lead away from Brave Daisey, who led the field through an opening quarter-mile in :22.26 with Lady Aurelia tracking in third and Triple Chelsea racing fifth and in the clear.
On the far turn, Lady Aurelia hooked up with Morticia, and the two raced as a team through a half-mile in :44.98 and 5 furlongs in :56.45 with Triple Chelsea running third on the outside before surging by late to claim the victory.
Triple Chelesa, who was fourth in this race last year, returned $18.60, $5.20 and $3. Lady Aurelia, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $2.60 and $2.10 with Morticia paying $2.40 to show under Jose Lezcano.
It was another 1¼ lengths back to Excessivespending, who was followed in order by Jennifer Lynnette, Storm the Hill, There'syourtrouble, Lady to the Max and Brave Daisey.
Bred in Kentucky by Liberty Road Stables, Triple Chelsea was a $22,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September sale. She won on debut for owner Calvin Johnson, and Grady and Sharp claimed her for $62,500 on Sept. 17, 2017 at Kentucky Downs. Since then, Triple Chelsea has not finished worse than third, and won a pair of listed stakes races before Saturday's Giant's Causeway. Overall, Triple Chelsea has a record of 8-2-6 from 20 starts with earnings of $360,000.
By Ritesh jamkhedkar-Ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com