BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Ernest C. Frohboese’s Florida-bred Chi Chi heads back to Remington Park—site of her first career stakes victory—Sunday for the $200,000 Remington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-a-sixteenth. Trained by the father-son team of Herman and Sam Wilensky, Chi Chi will be saddled by the younger Wilensky Sunday when she faces eight others.
After winning two of five starts as a juvenile, including the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial at Remington in September and the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint against fellow Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park in November, Chi Chi looks for her first trip to the winner’s circle in six starts this year.
Her best performance came in February at Gulfstream when she finished third behind Florida-bred winner R Harper Rose in the Grade 3 Forward Gal at seven furlongs. She finished third again in her next start in the $102,000 Any Limit won by Launch sprinting six furlongs at Gulfstream in March before going to Keeneland for the Grade 2 MiddleGround Capital Beaumont on April 7. Unfortunately, she bobbled at the start of the seven-furlong contest and finished fourth behind winner Diamond and Pearls.
She returned to Gulfstream for the $75,000 Game Face going six furlongs on June 1 and was again fourth, this time behind winner Miuccia. Most recently, she was given an opportunity on the turf in the $75,000 Miss Gracie going a mile on Aug. 3 but finished eighth, five-and-a-half lengths shy of winner Majestic Venezuela.
Chi Chi is out of Simply Confection, by Candy Ride (Arg) and was bred in Florida by France Weiner. She has a lifetime record of two wins, a second and two thirds with earnings of $135,988.
Ramon Vazquez will ride from post one.
Among a strong effort from the Steve Asmussen-trained Lemonesse, who is undefeated in three starts.
A homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds, Lemonesse broke her maiden on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park in May then won a non-winners of two allowance going six-and-a-half furlongs at Lone Star Park in June. The daughter of Gun Runner will have the benefit of a win over the Remington Park track, having won a non-winners of three allowance race going a mile there on Aug. 24.
Lemonesse has earned $27,247 in her three starts and will be ridden from post four by Sam Elliott.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will try to get a stakes victory for the improving Candy Gray, who was second in the Miss Gracie in her last start. She was also third in the $75,000 Azalea going seven furlongs on July 13 and fourth in the $75,000 Martha Washington going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on synthetic on June 8, both at Gulfstream.
Drayden Van Dyke will ride Candy Gray from post two.
Rounding out the field for the Remington Oaks are Teresa’s Nightmare with jockey Richard Eramia, Change It Up and rider Harry Hernandez, Just Be Quiet has Walter De La Cruz named to ride, Floyd Wethey Jr. will be aboard Miss Code West, Wonder Ride and jockey Reylu Gutierrez and Alpine Princess with Florent Geroux.
