Repole Stable's Chocolate Gelato fought off a determined You're My Girl coming out of the turn to win the $400,000 Frizette Stakes (G1) by a length on a sloppy track at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 2. The victory earned the daughter of Practical Joke a spot in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 4.
Chocolate Gelato was bred in Kentucky by Vincent Colbert. She was acquired by owner Mike Repole through West Bloodstock at this year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale for $475,000. The filly is trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden by Irad Oritz Jr.
Ortiz gave Chocolate Gelato a patient ride along the rail in the early going, when You're My Girl served as pacesetter through opening fractions of :23.14 and :46.90. As the field entered the turn, Ortiz weaved through horses and came around to the outside of You're My Girl to take the lead entering the stretch. You're My Girl did not take being passed quietly and re-rallied under Joel Rosario but could not catch the leader. The final time in the one-mile Frizette was 1:38.57.
Pletcher said the Frizette gave him confidence that Chocolate Gelato would have no trouble handling the Juvenile Fillies distance of 1 1/16 miles.
"She settled through and handled the mile really well. I liked the way she turned off, and it gives you the impression two turns is going to be within her range," he said. "I think she got there a little bit early and was waiting a bit. (You're My Girl) didn't give up; that's a nice filly. She fought back, so I was proud of our filly for staying on to the wire. That was a nice field she beat."
Chocolate Gelato finished third in her debut July 14 at Saratoga Race Course. In her second start Aug. 14, she won gate to wire by 8 1/2 lengths.
Pletcher said the Saratoga surface during the first week of the meet proved to be more demanding than expected.
"I don't think we were expecting the track to be as demanding as it was. I don't think a lot of our 2-year-olds were as fit as we thought they were," he said. "She's a perfect example of one who improved a lot in her second start."
Ortiz said the filly is still learning and got a lot out of the race.
"I had to work a little more aggressive on her, but she kept responding and got the job done," he said. "I let her do her thing and she was moving already so I said, 'All right, it's time to go,' and I didn't want to get in her way. I had a lot of confidence in her. She's a nice filly, so I ride her with confidence. When I asked, she was there for me."
You're My Girl made her second start in the Frizette, coming into the race off a 14-length debut win Sept. 2 at Saratoga for trainer John Terranova II and Rosario.
"It was the first time going long and she hung in there really well," Rosario said. "She ran a big race. It looked like for a second that horse was going to go away from me, but she came back and was fighting, so that was a good race for her going long the first time."
Besides being a Breeders' Cup Challenge Race, the Frizette is a points race for the 2023 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). Chocolate Gelato earned 10 points for the win that paid $5.30, $3.60, and $2.80. You're My Girl paid $4.40 and $3.60, while Leave No Trace in third paid $4.10.
Terranova said he would see how she comes out of the race before he talks with owners Gatsas Stables, R.A. Hill Stable, and Hidden Brook Farm about starting in the Breeders' Cup.
Chocolate Gelato is out of the winning Candy Ride mare Special Treat, whose granddam is multiple grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner Daydreaming (A.P. Indy) and the dam of grade 1 winner Imagining. Daydreaming also is a full sister to Vosburgh Stakes (G1) winner Girolamo and grade 3 winner Accelerator, who was second in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2).
Special Treat has a yearling filly by Palace Malice and foaled a filly by Outwork this year. She was bred back to Claiborne Farm's first-year sire Silver State.
Ashford Stud's Practical Joke is the leading second-crop sire by number of winners with 67 and ranks fourth by progeny earnings at $4,738,563 year to date. Chocolate Gelato is the sire's first North American grade 1 winner among his six graded/group stakes winners. Practical Joke has sired two group 1 winners in Chile.
