The Alys Look turns back Chop Chop in Silverbulletday

Jan 22, 2023 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Saturday's $150,000 Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds evolved into an
intramural battle between the Brad Cox-trained fillies The Alys Look and
Chop Chop, and it was The Alys Look who fended off her 4-5 favored stablemate to
take the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series prep under Luis Saez.

Perched in second behind pacesetter Hayunevano from the opening furlong, The
Alys Look seized control from that rival on the far turn and was soon joined by
Chop Chop, who had been a wider third all the way.

Although racing well out in the middle of the track down the long stretch,
the two separated themselves from the rest of the field. Chop Chop got within a
half-length outside of The Alys Look, but the latter dug in approaching the wire
and extended her advantage to one length at the finish.

Owned by Ike and Dawn Thrash, The Alys Look covered one mile and 70 yards
over a fast track in 1:43.55 and paid $6.60 as the 2-1 second choice in a field
of seven three-year-old fillies. Chop Chop was 13 1/2 lengths clear of
Hayunevano, who had a neck on Forest Chimes. Cotton Candy Annie, Amber Cascade,
and Norah G completed the order of finish.

This was the second win in five starts for The Alys Look. Third in her debut
at Keeneland but a poor seventh at Churchill Downs second out, she rebounded to
beat maiden foes by seven lengths at Fair Grounds on Dec. 1. Later that month,
The Alys Look finished a clear second to Pretty Mischievous in the Untapable S.

'She's got that one race at Churchill in the mud with blinkers on. She was
rank early. You draw a line through that one and she's got a beautiful race
record,' Cox said.

A stakes winner over the turf at Kentucky Downs last fall, Chop Chop
subsequently finished second by a nose to likely juvenile champion Wonder Wheel
in the Alcibiades (G1) before finishing an uncharacteristic last of 13 in the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

'I think Chop Chop needed the race,' Cox said. 'She'd been freshened up a
little bit since the Breeders' Cup.'

The Alys Look earned 20 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks,
increasing her total to 24. Chop Chop earned eight points, boosting her total to
12. Hayunevano earned six points, and now has eight points, while Forest Chimes
earned four points and Cotton Candy Annie two points.

Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and sold for $60,000 at Keeneland
September, The Alys Look is by Connect and out of Foul Play, by Harlan's
Holiday.