With Breeders Cup implications on the line here at Churchill on Saturday for this years Distaff, Team 7 Illusions Charo made not only the switch back to the dirt a profitable one, but now competing in the “pay” part of the game has turned out perfectly.

With a modest opening fraction of just forty eight flat for the half, it seemed this group was in no hurry. ” I was surprised how soft the race came up, ” Team 7 added in a post race interview. With his head tilted slightly to the left he looked at me with a slight grin on his face and stated, ” With everyone scared of going to the lead, I’m just glad she is on her way to the Breeders.” He added ” They were collectively 4 of 28 in graded stakes on the program, while Charo had eight wins and a second in her last ten.” Either way, she has definitely made a nice fit now at these stables. Her record this season stands at 5 starts ( 4-1-0 )

While Charo would find no one to challenge her until the late stages after getting the lead entering the clubhouse turn, three runners would put in a late effort to make their presence felt. Prima Dona ( Joshua Stables ) kept a watchful eye from fourth entering the far turn, then was moving to the outside off the turn with Love Struck Baby ( D J C Racing Stables ) in tow behind her. So True ( Mb Stables ) had finally got a length up on Manifest ( Smokey Stover ) who was keeping her company in a stalking position up to the top of the lane. Further back were Red Lucy ( The Sidley Stud ) and Attitude Problem ( Mb Stables ).

With the mile posted in 1:35.73, and a slower fraction of 24.10 compared to the previous quarter of 23.55, it was obvious that Esquivel was not putting in all the effort to this point. At the sixteenth pole, Prima Dona would get a neck in front of So True, with Love Struck Baby progressing well to her outside.

While Charo would finish in a finally time 1:48.31, a photo would determine Prima Dona captured second, with Love Struck Baby just inching out So True for the show share. Completing the field would be Red Lucy, early runner Manifest for sixth, and finally Attitude Problem who seemed uninterested as the post time favorite.

Side Note– While he first appeared in the top twenty for wins in 2004 with 142 victories, Team 7 Illusions made his presence felt in the early years of HRP. Like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s, in 2005 the Spinetingling/ Team 7 Illusions battle for most victories was just getting started. Capturing it in 2006, 2008 (being the first to break the 1000 mark for victories), he would slowly fade from the win records and shift his concentration to the breeding barns. Recently his sire Cherokee Sunset, which he purchased from D J C Racing Stables and follows in the Chai Latte bloodlines, is a name spoken around the tracks and has produced some Graded company winners of late. I would keep a close eye on two year old Geolocation whose works at six furlongs look very promising. Great job at taking two Graded company events here on Saturday, and a runner-up in the Gr. II Wise Dan.

Duffer

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES