Chicago Stakes (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
CD- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
June 22, 2024

She’s done it again! Lady Sammyantha is now a three-time winner of the Chicago Stakes, as her win here in 2024 is added to her 2021 and 2023 victories, making us wish that she was also entered here in 2022. This did not come as much of a surprise, as she was our pick and the 2/5 favorite. Still, you have to go out there and execute as we have seen countless examples of a big favorite not getting the job. Lady Sammyantha is trained by The Sidley Stud, and her three wins represent all of his wins in this race. R L Moore was aboard for his first win in the stake. Congratulations to them! Each of the Lady Sammyantha’s wins here have had a different jockey. The winning time of 1:21.60 is the fastest of the three editions of the race run here at SA. Including editions at AP, it would be third quickest. Let’s take a look at it:

(1/4 Mile- :22.55)- Shadow State is the fastest out of the gate and takes an uncontested length and a half lead for Smokey Stover. In the stalking position is where we find our eventual winner of the race, Lady Sammyantha, for The Sidley Stud, and this is very similar to how she began the race a year ago. Up She Flew is right next to her for Riggins Racing and does have a head in front to be credited with second at this point. Right behind them, Lorient (TwinTowersRacing) is by herself in fourth, and it’s a length to Miss Hennessy (Wood Duck Stables), and another to Spring Street (High Voltage).

(½ Mile- :45.85, Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- There’s no change in how the race looks as they complete the backstretch portion and move into the turn. Within the turn, Shadow State is able to hang on to the lead, but approaching the stretch, Lady Sammyantha is pulling up beside her to her outside. That one looks to be in great shape right now, drawing away from Up She Flew, who she had run with most of the way, and it did not seem like Shadow State would be able to hold her off. For the moment, it didn’t look like there was a threat further back. Spring Street was positioning herself for an outside run but had a lot of ground to make up to a two-time winner of the race.

(Finish- 1:21.60)- Lady Sammyantha has taken the lead, and with a furlong to go, the race seemed to be hers, and she does go on to win more comfortable than the final margin of victory suggests. Spring Street did, to her credit, make a late bid and get within a half-length but it never really seemed like she’s snagged the win. For Lady Sammyantha, it is her third win in the race, once at AP when it was called the Chicago Handicap and now two here at CD in the Chicago Stakes. Miss Hennessy found room on the rail to get up for third, and Up She Flew takes fourth, ahead of Lorient and Shadow State.

About The Winner- Lady Sammyantha, trained by The Sidley Stud and ridden to victory by R L Moore, is a six-year-old mare by Ginger Haggis and is out of Madame Broulard. She was bred in Ontario as a yearling by The Sidley Stud, who has enjoyed her entire career. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her thirteenth in 42 starts, her 13th stake win, and 10th graded win. Her career earnings are now $2,590.640.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :45⁴  1:09³  1:21³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 1 Paid 4.20
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 1 – 6 Paid 16.90

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES