By Bloodhorse.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 5, 2019) — California-bred Spiced Perfection, making her first start since running fourth in the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, overcame a stumble at the start to win the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. The 4-year-old California-bred filly earned a berth in the starting gate for the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
The West Coast-based daughter of Smiling Tiger won the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Filly & Mare Sprint.
Spiced Perfection held off the late-running Dawn the Destroyer by a head in the six-furlong TCA, hitting the wire in 1:10.60 on a fast track. Mia Mischief was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Chalon, the 2-1 favorite, was 1 3/4 lengths behind in fourth.
The winner, bred by Premier Thoroughbreds, races for the coalition of Pantofel Stable, Adam Wachtel’s Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch.
“She never quits,” said Bob Flynn in the winner’s circle. “I’ve been with the horse since Dare To Dream Stables was still around. I’m kind of an outside partner. We still are involved with some bonuses if she wins, so we’re doing great. She’s quite a horse.”
Spiced Perfection began her career for Dare To Dream Stable and trainer Brian Koriner.
The winner stumbled at the break under Javier Castellano from post 3 and was last early. Talk Veuve to Me took the early advantage and carved out an opening quarter in :22.14 while being chased by Mia Mischief and Razorback Lady. Spiced Perfection worked her way into midpack contention as the field worked its way to the turn.
Fourth as the half-mile went in :45.21, she was in a prime spot around the bend. Then, turning for home, Castellano hesitated briefly before finding a seam inside. Spiced Perfection split Talk Veuve to Me and Mia Mischief inside the eighth pole and struck the front. A final eighth in :12.89 allowed her to hold off Dawn the Destroyer.
“She stumbled really bad coming out of the gate. She recovered pretty quick, and we kept tracking the speed,” Castellano said. “We got through a little, tiny hole at the eighth pole. The filly was very brave to go through that hole and get it done.”
“It went to plan. There was a ton of speed in the race,” said Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard the runner-up. “We just let them go on about their business and let her find her stride. Coming into the five-sixteenths pole, I just took her out and let her run. She really finished up strong. I thought we were going to get there, but congratulations and props to the winner.”
“She never quits,” Flynn reiterated of Spiced Perfection. “You saw that today. She fell five lengths behind coming out of the gate.”
She also loves Keeneland. Before the Humana Distaff, she won the Madison Stakes (G1), getting seven furlongs in 1:23.49. In all, Spiced Perfection is 8-5-2 from 18 starts, with $1,026,905 in earnings. She is slated to sell at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale as part of the ELiTE consignment.
A $6,500 Barretts October sale yearling in 2016 out of the Woodbridge Farm consignment, going to John Brocklebank, Spiced Perfection sold to Dare To Dream Stables for $50,000 at the following year’s Barretts March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale from Checkmate Thoroughbreds, agent.
Spiced Perfection is out of Perfect Feat, by Pleasantly Perfect. Her full brother, Cruel Intention, won last year’s Golden State Juvenile Stakes.
Her dam is Kazadancoa, Runnymede Farm’s blue hen who produced three graded stakes winners and Sacre Coeur, the dam of champion Lady Eli and grade 3 winner Bizzy Caroline.