NEWS
Hot Cha Cha runs away with Pucker Up
Posted: Monday, September 07, 2009 7:37 PM
HOT CHA CHA
FourFootedFotos.com
To view the Pucker Up Stakes, click here.
by Steve Bailey
Hot Cha Cha overtook favorite Romacaca in the stretch and drove to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Pucker Up Stakes (G3) on Monday at Arlington Park.
After taking the Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap (G3) aboard Free Fighter earlier on the card, jockey James Graham won the Pucker Up as Hot Cha Cha was given plenty of pace to run at and took command late to pick up her fourth victory this season for trainer Philip Sims.
The victory snapped a four-start winless skid for the three-year-old Cactus Ridge filly, who captured a one-mile optional claiming race on March 7 and the Bourbonette Oaks (G3) on March 21, both at Turfway Park. She entered off a third-place finish behind Peach Brew in the Arlington Oaks (G3) on July 18.
Romacaca, the 2-to-1 favorite in the field of 12, jumped to the early lead and dueled with Kiss Mine through a quarter-mile in :22.86 and a half-mile in :46.58. Hot Cha Cha stayed on the rail under Graham, racing in midpack through much of the trip. Graham angled Hot Cha Cha to the outside and she rallied four wide on the turn before sprinting past Romacaca in deep stretch, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.67 on firm turf.
Single Solution made a late rally between horses in the stretch to take third, another 2½ lengths back.
Bred and owned by Nelson McMakin, Hot Cha Cha earned her first career turf triumph from four starts, all this season. Overall, she has won four of ten starts with a second- and two third-place finishes and $285,566 in earnings.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
