BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Ernest C. Frohboese’s Chi Chi entered the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord a maiden and exited a stakes winner as the Florida-bred filly won for the first time in the six-and-a-half-furlong test for 2-year-old fillies at Remington Park Sept. 24. Ridden by Edwin Gonzalez for trainer Herman Wilensky, Chi Chi bested the field of eight by a length-and-a-quarter after traveling to Oklahoma.
Chi Chi was also making her career debut on dirt after two unsuccessful tries against special weight maidens, both while sprinting five furlongs on the grass at Del Mar. She finished fifth, two-and-a-half lengths short of winner Mysticism on Aug. 4 and was fourth last out behind winner Soho on Sept. 8.
But Chi Chi was able to produce a winning effort in the E.L. Gaylord.
Katies Spirit jumped out to an early lead in the E.L. Gaylord with Hittin My Stride and Chi Chi tracking in a joint second from about a length back in the early going. After a quarter-mile split in :22.37, Hitting My Stride took over from between horses in the turn with Chi Chi to her outside as Katie’s Spirit dropped back on the rail and Curlin’s Magic launched a bid while four wide.
Chi Chi and Curlin’s Magic emerged from the pack in tandem coming out of the turn but Chi Chi got the advantage in deep stretch and won by daylight in 1:17.98 on the fast track. Curlin’s Magic held second, two-and-a-quarter lengths faster than Tx Women for Arts in third. Hittin My Stride finished fourth followed by Magnolia Avenue, Katies Spirit, Too Much Dreaming and Okie Trouble.
Chi Chi was sent to the post at 5-1 and paid $13.40 to win.
By Audible out of the stakes-placed Candy Ride (Arg) mare Simply Confection, Chi Chi is a half-sister to Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth and $150,000 Mucho Macho Man-winner Simplification, the 2022 FTBOA Florida-bred Horse of the Year. She is the second stakes winner for Simply Confection, who has an unnamed yearling filly by Union Rags and a weanling filly by Not This Time. Simply Confection was bred to Into Mischief in 2023.
Chi Chi was bred by France Weiner and is a graduate of the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale where she did not meet her reserve from the consignment of Stuart Morris. She has now earned $36,560 from her three starts.
