Photo: Adam Coglianese
Curragh Stables’ Chorus Music secured a second career stakes victory at Saratoga on Sunday taking the $75,000 Irish Linnet S. for older New York-bred fillies and mares by one-half length over favorite Gitchee Goomie, who poked a head in front of Frivolous Buck in an exciting finish where only 1 ½ lengths separated the first six across the wire.
The last time six-year-old Chorus Music had her picture taken was April 29, on Belmont Opening Day, when she translated her seasonal debut for trainer John Terranova into a first career stakes victory. Through an oddity of the NYRA overnight stakes calendar, the name of the Belmont race was also the Irish Linnet which, like its Saratoga counterpart, was run at a mile on the turf (that day, however, over a yielding course). In her interim start, Belmont’s one-mile Mount Vernon on May 29, Chorus Music got into traffic trouble, but still managed to split horses and get up for third behind Gitchee Goomie and Paraiba, both in Sunday’s field.
Photo: Debra Roma Photography
Gitchee Goomie (3-2) and Chorus Music (3-1) were the clear-cut first and second choices in the wagering as the nine fillies and mares went to the post. It is rare for either run off the board, but on paper the class edge went to the Violette-trained Grade 1- and Grade 3-placed Gitchee Goomie with familiar jockey Alan Garcia aboard in post two. Javier Castellano had the assignment aboard Chorus Music for the fourth time and the pair had the outside berth.
After an early four-way scramble for the lead, by the by the time the field entered the clubhouse turn Spa City Princess had emerged on top, tracked closely by Considerate. Mystic City followed in third after a break of two lengths, while Paraiba raced at the hedge another length back, with Chorus Music just to her outside. As the leaders progressed down the backstretch clocking solid fractions of 23.41 and 47.62, the order up front remained unchanged. Meanwhile Gitchee Goomie raced dead last, with still as much as ten lengths to make after the first half mile.
Chorus Music began to make her move four wide going through the far turn, putting herself within striking range as she straightened out for the drive. Gitchee Goomie had made up ground, but still had only one horse beaten at the top of the stretch and would have to seek racing room.
Mystic City (#8), Chorus Music (#9), Gitchee Goomie (outside), Frivolous Buck (purple cap) (Photo: Debra Roma Photography)
Up front, Mystic City grabbed lead in midstretch from a tiring Spa City Princess, while Chorus Music moved up into a close second around the sixteenth marker. Meanwhile Gitchee Goomie launched a strong late bid just to the outside of Frivolous Buck.
At the end of the day Chorus Music crossed the finish line with a half length advantage over Gitchee Goomie, who managed to poke a head in front of Frivolous Buck. Mystic City came in fourth a half-length later, separated from fifth place finisher Paraiba by only a neck, with Exclusive Scheme just a nose behind that. Spa City Princess, Considerate and Tutti Va Bene completed the order of finish. The final time for the mile run over the firm Inner turf course was 1.35.87.
Winning trainer John Terranova could not have been more pleased with Chorus Music’s effort on Sunday and with the way her 2011 campaign is going. Noting that she runs well fresh, Terranova said, “She came back unbelievable after her layoff. She had traffic trouble in her last [the Mount Vernon], but she’s six years old and this is her best year so far.” Chorus Music wintered last year at Fair Hill and the year before at Ocala. Terranova gives her owners credit for letting the lightly-built filly get the benefit of time off every year.
Chorus Music’s second stakes win improved her record to 6-6-3 from 20 starts and increased her purse earnings to $245,113. With four starts in restricted stakes starts to date, she has chalked up two Irish Linnet wins, a second to You Go West Girl in the Ticonderoga last fall and a third in the Mount Vernon. As to the future, Terranova said, “If she’s well, she’ll hopefully go on to the Yaddo.”
A daughter of former New York stallion Strategic Mission, Chorus Music was bred by Lynn M. Scace and foaled at Dutchess Views Farm. She is the eleventh foal from Philharmonia (Caerleon), who was purchased by Questroyal Stable and Barry Ostrager for $11,500 at the 2000 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages sale. Philharmonia produced ten starters and eight winners, and Chorus Music is her first foal to earn black type.
Photo: Debra Roma Photography
