By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (July 23, 2023) — Before she ships east later this summer for a million-dollar Grade 1, the undefeated Ceiling Crusher, a graduate of the Northern California Yearling Sale, gets another chance to run up the score Thursday at Del Mar.
Romping winner of two California-bred stakes, by a combined margin of more than 32 lengths, Ceiling Crusher looks odds-on in the $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies. After that, deeper water.
“We’re optimistic Thursday is going to go well and she’s going to come out of in good shape,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “And then the Cotillion, that’s our big swing.”
The Grade 1 Cotillion on Sept. 23 at Parx Racing might seem ambitious for a Cal-bred who has never faced open company. But it so happens that Ceiling Crusher is the fastest filly in the West. Her 94 sprint Beyer Speed Figure two back, and 92 route fig last out, are the highest this season by a 3-year-old filly in California.
Not only is Ceiling Crusher fast, she also looks the part. O’Neill said “she’s just a beautiful, tall, long, gorgeous-looking filly. She’s been brilliant from the day we got her.”
Bred by Harris Farms and sired by Mr. Big, Ceiling Crusher began her career for owner Dan Northrup and trainer Luis Mendez. After she romped first out at 2, O’Neill heard she might be for sale. “We had a group that were interested, got a deal done, and started mapping out a dream plan.”
So far, so good for owners Todd Cady, Lisa Fedick, Tim Kasparoff, and Ty Leatherman. Ceiling Crusher won an allowance in January, followed by the Evening Jewel and Melair stakes in spring at Santa Anita. Regular rider Juan Hernandez is up Thursday.
Six others are entered in the seven-furlong Fleet Treat, race 7. Tom’s Regret won the Pleasanton Oaks last out but has finished far behind Ceiling Crusher twice previously. Chismosa missed by a neck last out against older fillies and mares in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos.
Based on current class and a 3-for-3 record at Del Mar, including two juvenile stakes, Chismosa enters as an upset candidate. However, she drew the rail over a surface that was conspicuously pro-outside, anti-inside opening week. If the bias continues, Chismosa is up against it. Others entered are Absolutely Zero, Cholly, Big Pond, and Smiling Lady.