Chatalas punched her ticket to next month’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) with a wire-to-wire score in the $202,000 Chandelier (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. But the result also underscored the apparent dominance of division leader Tamara, who skipped the Chandelier in order to train up to the Juvenile Fillies.
When last seen on the track, Chatalas had finished fourth in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), 12 3/4 lengths behind Tamara. That had followed a more pleasing effort, a half-length win in her debut going 5 1/2 furlongs earlier in the Del Mar meet.
Sent off as the 3-1 second choice in a field of nine on Saturday, Chatalas took advantage of her inside draw and grabbed the early lead under Antonio Fresu. Tracked closely by Dua, Chatalas held a half-length lead through splits of :23.69, :47.97, and 1:11.88.
Although taken on by Dua in the stretch, Chatalas found more in reserve and ultimately edged away late to win by 1 1/2 lengths. New York invader Scalable rallied up the inside to nip Dua for second by a neck. The order of finish was rounded out by Pacific Rose, Gate to Paradise, Autumn Chill, Motet, Pink Whitney, and 2-1 favorite Laurent.
“We’ve always thought the further she went the better she would be,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “A little disappointed with the Debutante performance, but I look back on it and she was fairly close to 44 (second) fractions and that’s just not her.”
Owned by breeder Dan Agnew and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, Chatalas covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.28 and paid $8.20.
In addition to the fees-paid berth to the Juvenile Fillies, Chatalas also earned 10 qualifying points toward the 2024 Kentucky Oaks (G1). Scalable earned five points, Pacific Rose two points, and Gate to Paradise one point. Dua was ineligible to earn any qualifying points due to trainer Bob Baffert’s current suspension from racing at Churchill Downs.
Bred in Kentucky, Chatalas is by Gun Runner and out of Indian Safari, by Indian Charlie.
