Stakes Winners Aim for Graded Glory at Santa Anita's Chillingworth
The upcoming Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita will feature a thrilling contest between two standout fillies and mares, Thermal and Paradise City, both eager to claim their inaugural graded stakes triumph. This highly anticipated event, spanning 6 1/2 furlongs, brings together proven stakes winners ready to ascend to the next level of competitive racing.
Thermal's Pursuit of Graded Success
Thermal, a locally based contender, has demonstrated her potential with a previous stakes victory and now sets her sights on a coveted graded win. Her journey to this point includes a notable performance at Lone Star Park, where she secured her first stakes win in the Memorial Day Sprint Stakes. Following this success, she faced a challenging field in the Rancho Bernardo (G3) at Del Mar, showcasing her competitive spirit against formidable opponents.
The 5-year-old mare, sired by Nyquist and co-owned by By Talla Racing and trainer John Sadler, boasts a career record of 4 wins, 1 second, and 4 thirds from 15 starts, accumulating earnings exceeding $250,000. Her recent second-place finish in the Rancho Bernardo, where she battled a top sprinter, highlights her readiness for graded competition. With Joel Rosario once again in the irons, Thermal is poised to deliver a strong performance in the Chillingworth Stakes, seeking to convert her stakes-winning form into graded glory.
Paradise City's Bid for Elite Status
Eastern invader Paradise City arrives at Santa Anita with her own impressive credentials, aiming to add a graded stakes victory to her resume. The 4-year-old daughter of McKinzie, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., previously clinched her first stakes win in the Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows, showcasing her ability over six furlongs. Her subsequent effort in the prestigious Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga, where she finished a respectable fifth, underscores her experience against top-tier competition.
Owned by C2 Racing Stable, Kuehne Racing, and Shining Stables, among others, Paradise City holds a solid record of 4 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third from 15 career starts, with earnings approaching $400,000. Her prior stakes success and a credible showing in a Grade 1 race indicate her capability to contend at this level. Partnered with jockey Micah Husbands, who guided her to victory in the Saylorville, Paradise City presents a compelling challenge in the Chillingworth Stakes as she endeavors to achieve her first graded stakes triumph on the West Coast.