A determined Ce Ce under Victor Espinoza winning the Apple Blossom over Ollie’s Candy
Ce Ce, determined winner of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas by a head over Ollie’s Candy on April 18, is nominated to next Sunday’s Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., but trainer Michael McCarthy and owner/breeder Bo Hirsch were mulling their options Monday morning.
A 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road, Ce Ce captured the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita before the Apple Blossom and has won four of six career starts with one second, earning a hefty $726,600.
“The filly worked over the weekend but I haven’t spoken with the owner yet so we haven’t made up our minds,” McCarthy said. “I was pleased with the way she worked.
“I’ve got a couple options including the Santa Maria and the Ogden Phipps in New York. I’ll talk with Mr. Hirsch a bit later and go from there.”
The Grade I Ogden Phipps will be decided at 1 1/16 miles June 13 at Belmont Park.
Ce Ce breezed five furlongs Sunday in 1:01, while another Santa Maria probable, Hard Not to Love, went the same distance in a bullet 58.80 for John Shirreffs. It was the fastest of 48 drills at the distance, the average time of which was 1:01.52.
Meanwhile City of Light, earner of $5,662,600, is relishing life as a stallion at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Ky., where he stands for $40,000.
Thanks to McCarthy’s dexterous display of horsemanship, the son of Quality Road captured the 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational by 5 ¾ dominating lengths on Gulfstream Park’s sloppy track before going to stud.
“He’s doing a helluva lot of servicing,” McCarthy said, “and it sounds like he’s enjoying himself.”
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