Saturday, September 27, 2008

Sugar Mom comes from behind to take Juvenile Fillies

By Eric Wing

FLORENCE, KY . . . September 27, 2008 . . .In 2006, owner Frank Calabrese and trainer Wayne Catalano teamed up to campaign that year’s Champion 2-year-old filly Dreaming of Anna. The Chicago-based Calabrese/Catalano team has another fine 2-year-old filly in their barn this year in Sugar Mom, who rallied from well back to catch the tiring leaders and grab a one-length victory in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies. Ridden by Manny Aguilar, Sugar Mom covered the mile in 1:37.86.

Sugar Mom’s career began humbly enough, taking her to maiden claiming events to get her first win. But since moving to the barn of Catalano and switching to Polytrack for a $40,000 maiden claimer at Arlington Park July 23, Sugar Mom has turned into a tigress. Today’s win was her third consecutive victory, all coming on Polytrack. Should she follow the path of Dreaming of Anna, her next race could come on October 24 in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.


Off at 7-2 in the field of eight, Sugar Mom settled in seventh place, well off the brisk early pace set by the tandem of 2-1 race favorite Bold Union and 88-1 longshot Saxxy Rose Lee. The early fractions of :23.56, :46.32, and 1:11.32 began to take their toll as the field turned for home, and Sugar Mom and eventual runner up Complicity continued with a sustained rally. Racing farthest outside, Sugar Mom wore down Complicity to secure the victory. Saxxy Rose Lee lasted for third, while Bold Union tired to fourth.

“She runs well from behind, so that’s where I put her,” said Aguilar of the daughter of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. “She’s definitely a distance horse that can get more ground. This is my first time here and it’s nice to win this race.”

For trainer Catalano, the Juvenile Fillies played out pretty much according to plan. “We thought with the speed the race would set up good for her,” he said. “She had a great post position. It looked like on paper that the speed would start backing up at the quarter-pole and then we’d start getting into the race around the same time. That’s exactly how it worked out. Any time you have a horse good enough to be considered for the Breeders’ Cup, you have to think about it. We’ll talk it over with Mr. Calabrese and see what the filly tells us.”

Sugar Mom paid $9.20 to win and now has three wins from six career starts.

The complete order of finish in the Juvenile Fillies: Sugar Mom, Complicity, Saxxy Rose Lee, Bold Union, Megalicious, Believe in Me, Westline and Juliet’s Spirit.

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