Chocolate Gelato tastes sweet victory in Frizette

Chocolate Gelato bided her time in fifth early as You’re My Girl set the pace on the sloppy track. Herself a smashing maiden winner at the Spa, You’re My Girl was chased by the two stakes winners in the Frizette field. Leave No Trace, the Spinaway (G1) heroine, initially raced in second, but she was overtaken by Sorority winner Vedareo who prompted the frontrunner. 

Just when You’re My Girl put her nearest pursuers away, Chocolate Gelato was on the move into contention. The favorite readily took charge turning for home and appeared poised to pull clear, but You’re My Girl wouldn’t quit. She kept on determinedly on the inside, and went down by only one length.

Chocolate Gelato negotiated the one-turn mile in 1:38.57. Aside from collecting 10 points toward the Kentucky Oaks, the daughter of Practical Joke boosted her bankroll to $290,350 from her 3-2-0-1 line.

“She settled through and handled the mile really well,” Pletcher said. “I liked the way she turned off, and it gives you the impression two turns is going to be within her range.

“I think she got there a little bit early and was waiting a bit. She (You're My Girl) didn't give up -- that's a nice filly. She fought back, so I was proud of our filly for staying on to the wire. That was a nice field she beat.”

You’re My Girl crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Leave No Trace. American Rockette closed from last for fourth. Vedareo, who had to steady when Chocolate Gelato muscled through, lost her momentum and finished fifth. The second through fifth all picked up Oaks points, on a 4-3-2-1 basis. The Great Maybe trailed home sixth, and Raging Sea was scratched, reportedly in favor of Friday’s Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland.

Bred by Vincent Colbert in Kentucky, Chocolate Gelato is a well-named daughter of Special Treat. Her dam, by Candy Ride, hails from a deep family including Pletcher’s 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver. 

Chocolate Gelato went to her current connections for $475,000 as a two-year-old in training at Fasig-Tipton Florida’s Gulfstream Sale. Long highly regarded, the dark bay has been favored in all three of her career starts. She was overturned on debut, tiring to third on a Saratoga track that was playing deep, but has rebounded with a vengeance since. 

“After the first week at Saratoga, that first group of babies that we ran -- I don't think we were expecting the track to be as demanding as it was,” Pletcher said. “I don't think a lot of our two-year-olds were as fit as we thought they were. She's a perfect example of one who improved a lot in her second start.”

Chocolate Gelato is eligible to keep progressing to the Breeders’ Cup and beyond, on the Oaks trail.