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Saturday, May 8, 2016
Sea Calisi takes G2 Sheepshead Bay, gives Ortiz sweep of stakes
By Najja Thompson
ELMONT, N.Y. – Heavily favored Sea Calisi made her American debut a winning one, taking the lead in midstretch and going on to a 2 ½-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Owned by Martin Schwartz, who bought the 4-year-old filly in Europe and turned her over to trainer Chad Brown, Sea Calisi was content to save ground at the back of the pack as Robillard led through an opening quarter in 25.47 seconds, with the half going in 52.09. Still last on the far turn but roused by jockey Jose Ortiz as the field straightened for home, Sea Calisi made a quick move to grab the lead approaching the eighth pole and hit the wire in 2:18.90 for 1 3/8 miles over the yielding turf.
“The plan was to cover her up, so that’s what I did for most of the race,” said Ortiz, who won five races on the card, including the Grade 3 Westchester aboard Anchor Down and the Grade 3 Fort Marcy with Ironicus. “I took her to the outside a little before the quarter pole and she did it all by herself. I just showed her the whip a couple of times and she just rolled by them and then I tried to ease her up and save some horse for next time.
“I was worried about the slow pace,” he added. “It was a small field but I think she was the best horse of the race. She finished third in the Darley Oaks. She’s a great filly and I want to thank the owner and the trainer for the opportunity.”
Sent off at 3-5, Sea Calisi returned $3.30 for a $2 win bet as she extended her career record to 3-1-3 from eight starts. On her resume already were a victory in the Group 2 Prix de Malleret at Saint-Cloud, a second in the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly and a pair of third place finishes in the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks and the Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp. She earned $180,000 Saturday to boost her career bankroll to $399,113.
“What I liked about her coming from Europe is that she has a magnificent turn of foot,” said Schwartz. “She won the Malleret in France and then she came very close to winning the Yorkshire Oaks to two fabulous horses, Covert Love and Pleascach. She lost a neck and a neck in York and probably should have won the race but [her jockey] couldn’t get her out soon enough.
“I’ll leave where we go next up to Chad,” he added. “We’ll see how she comes out but I think she’s got a bright, bright, future.”
Guapaza, also trained by Brown, finished second, 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Robillard. Selenite checked in fourth, with Nakuti fading to finish fifth. Carla Bianca was scratched.
