Rolling Sea Sails to Chilukki Score

Millennium Farms’ Rolling Sea won for the sixth time this year, stalking the pace and then taking a clear lead in the stretch before holding on to win the $200,000 Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) (VIDEO) by a half-length at Churchill Downs Nov. 3.

It was the second graded stakes score of 2007 for the 4-year-old daughter of Sefapiano and the 10^th time in 24 lifetime starts that the chestnut filly has earned top honors.

A one-mile event on the main track for fillies and mares 3-year-old and up, the Chilukki was contested by a field of eight. Lady Belsara set the early pace, going a quarter in :23.12 and a half-mile in :46.34. Rolling Sea was tucked in along the rail by Robby Albarado, just behind Lady Belsara and Change Up.

By the time they reached six furlongs, Rolling Sea had inched her way to the front and began extending the advantage. Lady Belsara was tiring badly.

Rolling Sea had a comfortable lead in deep stretch and was still going well as she approached the final sixteenth. But hard-charging High Heels, under urging from Joe Johnson, made a bold move on the rail and came up to challenge. Unfortunately for the daughter of E Dubai, she ran out of room. My Chickadee also came from well back and took third at odds of 22-1.

“You have got to be real easy with her the first part of it and let her gather herself to get her to put herself in the race,” Albarado said. “I just let her cruise on her own. I had a clean trip and she took care of them today.”

Rolling Sea stopped the clock in 1:36.02 despite being the 122-pound heavyweight. She went off as the 4-1 second choice and paid $10 to win. The exacta (1-3) was worth $62.80, while the trifecta (1-3-5) earned bettors $710.20.

Out of the Cure the Blues mare Almost Sma, Rolling Sea is trained by Steve Asmussen. She most recently competed in the Oct. 7 Spinster Stakes (gr. I) on the Keeneland Polytrack but was a well-beaten seventh. Prior to that she won the Central Iowa Stakes at Prairie Meadows by an impressive 10 ¾ lengths Sept. 8.

“She has put together a great year,” Asmussen said.  “She was solid at the beginning of the year and won a couple of graded stakes. She’s an excellent filly and great to be around.”

Rolling Sea was bred in Illinois by Asiel Stable.

Betting favorite Windy finished fifth.

(Chart, Equibase)