Harris-bred, Raised and Sold Chancery Way Wins $100,000 Betty Grable S.

Courtesy of Del Mar (November 12, 2023) – Smolich or Smolich’s Chancery Way proved too quick for six rivals Sunday at Del Mar in the 28th edition of the Betty Grable Stakes scooting to a three and three-quarter length triumph in the seven-panel affair.

The $100,500 test was for California-bred fillies and mares and the winner is a 4-year-old daughter of one of the state’s top sires – Mr. Big. She covered the distance in front all the way and finished up in 1:22.43.

Finishing second was the race favorite, Nick Alexander’s Rose Dawson, while third – just a neck behind – was Alexander’s Carmen Miranda.

The winner was ridden by Antonio Fresu and trained by Jamey Thomas, a Northern California-based conditioner who was taking his first stakes at the shore oval. She returned $7.80 to win to her backers.

“I didn’t know anything about this filly before I rode her today, but I went back and looked at film of some of her races,” said Fresu. “I could see she had speed and it looked like she could finish well. I thought the seven furlongs would be a good distance for her. When we turned for home, she really went. It all worked out well.”

“She broke sharp and Antonio (Fresu) put her on the lead like we thought we’d be and it worked out perfect for us,” said Thomas. “She’s been training really good and so we thought ‘she’s ready to roll let’s find us a race’ and this happened to be the one.”

Chancery Way earned a first prize of $57,000 to increase her lifetime bankroll to $270,770. Her tally was her sixth in 11 total starts.