DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 2, 2023) – Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Ceiling Crusher rebounded from her first career loss five weeks ago with her first graded victory, a front-running win in Saturday’s $150,000 Grade III Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar.
Ceiling Crusher is by Mr. Big, out of the Indian Charlie mare Palisadesprincess, was bred by Harris Farms, is owned by Wonderland Racing Stables, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff and Ty Leatherman and is trained by Doug O’Neill.
“I think I had her in a route mentality and last time (in the Fleet Treat) I kept her one turn and it was a difficult challenge,” said O’Neill. “So I think getting her back to two turns, she drew perfectly and Edwin (Maldonado) did a great job. We did the old find the lead and improve your position. That confident, arrogant thing you do and often times you get pie all over your face, but this particular time it worked perfectly.”
According to Daily Racing Form, O’Neill did not rule out the Grade 1 Cotillion on Sept. 23 at Parx Racing for her next start, but he insinuated that wheeling her back in three weeks and shipping across the country might not be in in her best interests.
If she stays home, Ceiling Crusher could run against Adare Manor on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares. The last three Torrey Pines winners (Midnight Memories, Private Mission, Harvest Moon) won the Zenyatta in their next start.
The $22,000 purchase from the Northern California Yearling Sale has five wins in six starts, earnings of $369,400 and was coming off a third as the odds-on favorite in the June 27 Fleet Treat Stakes after beginning her career with four consecutive wins.
Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Ceiling Crusher ran the mile in 1:37.41 and won by six lengths as the 3-1 favorite in a field of eight.
“When she was a baby I used to work her for trainer Luis Mendez before she got sold. So it crushed me when she got sold,” said Maldonado. “But I was happy to see her doing so good. Today, you go or you take back and try and save ground. So it was a no brainer but to go with her today. Day and night, now she does everything so easy, effortless.”