March 29, 2024

Cicatrix holds in Glitter Woman; Piven romps in Limehouse

Cicatrix and jockey Julien Leparoux win the Glitter Woman Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 6, 2018 (c) Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography

While the focus Saturday at Gulfstream Park remained fixed on the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, a pair of six-furlong restricted contests produced a couple of nice winners as well.

Bill Witman’s Cicatrix garnered attention when taking her maiden debut at Churchill Downs on November 16 by 7 1/4 lengths. The Ian Wilkes pupil returned to action in Saturday’s $75,000 Glitter Woman Stakes with jockey Julien Leparoux remaining in the saddle.

The rider allowed Cicatrix to settle into a stalking position early as Luzmimi Princess led the way up front. The dark bay daughter of Violence engaged the pacesetter while wide, took over in midstretch and then withstood a game late run from 31-1 Morning Destiny to record the neck victory.

“She settled nice in a good spot and she finished good,” Leparoux said. “She’s a talented filly. She sure was very professional.”

“She’s always shown she has some talent, this filly,” Wilkes added. “I want to stretch her out. I do believe she’ll go longer. I think she’ll be better going longer.”

Cicatrix was worth $8 as the 3-1 third choice, and stopped the clock in 1:12.20 over the fast dirt. Morning Destiny, the second longest shot on the board, had 2 1/2 lengths to spare on third-placer Foxtrot Sally, who in turn was 2 1/4 lengths up on 92-1 longshot Analyze Your Life. Completing the order under the wire were Others Will Follow, 5-2 favorite Elevenses, Luzmimi Princess, Act Now and Lil Be Quick.

Cicatrix is now two-for-two in her career and has banked $80,640 in lifetime earnings. The sophomore lass was bred in Kentucky by CESA Farm and is out of the multiple stakes-placed Pulpit mare Provincial. Her third dam is the Northern Dancer mare Dance Review, and she comes from the same female family as Grade 1-winning millionaires Flower Alley, Urbane and Cavorting.

Piven romps in the Limehouse Stakes under jockey Jose Ortiz at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 6, 2018 (c) Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography

A couple races earlier, Derek Chin’s Piven lived up to his even-money favoritism in the $75,000 Limehouse Stakes under jockey Jose Ortiz.

The duo rated behind pacesetter Reed Kan, who was pressed by Aequor and Empire Power to his outside. Nearing the turn, Piven slipped inside Empire Power before angling out four wide around the turn. The dark bay son of Prospective ran down Reed Kan and Aequor, pulling away in the lane to be four lengths clear on the wire in a final time of 1:11.47 for six furlongs on the fast main track.

Aequor followed in second with Empire Power rallying to be third another 1 1/2 lengths behind. Reed Kan filled the fourth spot three-quarters of a length back, while Dial One and Interdiction completed the order of finish.

Piven boosted his career record to 5-2-1-1, $101,346, and paid $4.20 for the Limehouse win. Trained by Kevin Attard, the bay sophomore earned his first stakes victory here while also making his initial start over a conventional dirt track.

The Florida-bred colt debuted last August at Woodbine with a nose score on the synthetic Tapeta, and stayed there for a half-length second in the Colin Stakes and fourth-placing in the Grey Stakes (Can-G3) before closing out his juvenile campaign with a neck third against allowance/optional claiming rivals on November 11.

Bred by Wendy Christ and Carol Hershe, Piven is the first registered stakes winner out of the unraced Elusive Quality mare Her Entourage. This female family includes Grade 1-winning half-sisters Zo Impressive and Zaftig, who are out of the Grade 1-scoring Zoftig, as well as 2015 Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Tale of Verve.

Farther back in Piven’s female line one can find 1984 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) conqueror Swale, who was honored as that year’s champion three-year-old male.