Irish import Clenor remained perfect from two stateside starts when uncorking
a monster last-to-first rally in Monday’s $100,750
Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar, stating her candidacy for the
corresponding Breeders’ Cup race. Hammered into 4-5 favoritism off a
course-and-distance maiden win, the Doug O’Neill trainee inhaled pacesetter
Nesso in the stretch and drew off by 3 1/4 lengths in a dominant display,
Clenor was confidently handled throughout by Rafael Bejarano, who allowed her
to fall well back in last early. The pace was plenty hot enough to set the stage
for her closing kick, with Nesso winging her way through fractions of :22 and
:45 4/5.
Down the backstretch, Clenor steadily improved her position, and by the time
that Nesso clocked six furlongs in 1:10 2/5, the odds-on favorite was traveling
ominously well, under wraps, in fourth. Bejarano turned Clenor loose
straightening for home, and she rocketed to the front. Despite drifting out in
the drive, Clenor widened her margin while in hand late and completed the
firm-turf mile in 1:34 3/5.
“I could have put her anywhere I wanted to in the race,” Bejarano said. “But
I saw there was enough speed up front, so I was fine to sit back and wait. She
just eased on up and I had lots of horse at all points. I remembered she’d run
so well from the back last time, so I figured why not do it again. She ran well
in that first one here (August 7), but she ran much, much better this time.
She’s impressive. Very.”
Nesso retained the runner-up spot by 1 3/4 lengths, with Pleasant Miss
checking in third. Sensational Nikki, E Equalsmcsquared, Venetian, Perched and
One More Wild Ride rounded out the order of finish. Stunning Drama was scratched
along with Tiz the Key, who just finished third in a maiden on Sunday.
Clenor paid $3.80 to win and more than doubled her bankroll to $112,799 from
her 5-2-0-1 line. Bred in Ireland by Lucy Stack, the bay was originally trained
by Tommy Stack for owner Peter Piller. Although winless in her three Irish
outings, the daughter of Oratorio performed creditably in solid company. She was
fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, to Glassatura and Bye Bye Birdie in her May 25
unveiling at the Curragh. Fourth to Bye Bye Birdie next time at Cork on June 16,
Clenor was third to that same Aidan O’Brien-trained rival in the June 30
Balanchine (aka the Grangecon Stud) back at the Curragh.
Following that Group 3 placing on her resume, the smart maiden was acquired
by the partnership of Great Friends Stable — a San Diego-based group of owners
headed by sports radio hosts Scott Kaplan and Billy Ray Smith — and Robert
Cseplo and Steven Keh. She immediately broke through in her U.S. debut for
O’Neill, roaring from last to a 2 1/2-length decision on August 7.
“Oh what a filly — so exciting to see her run the way she does,” O’Neill
said. “She runs at the proper time in the race and it’s very unusual to see
that, especially in a two-year-old. They (connections in Ireland) had her well
prepared.
“A bloodstock agent in Europe brought her to the attention of Steve Rothblum
and Jack Sisterson, and if it wasn’t for them, she wouldn’t be here. As long as
she stays healthy, she’s Breeders’ Cup-bound. “
Clenor was produced by the Royal Academy mare Chantarella, who is also
responsible for the stakes-placed duo of Celerina and Another Express. This is
the family of Jacqueline Quest, agonizingly disqualified from a hard-fought win
in the 2010 One Thousand Guineas; Group 3 scorers Regime and Title Roll;
multiple Group 2-placed stakes victress Salut d’Amour; Lightning Hit, successful
in a division of the Oceanside in 2006; and a much more accomplished California
transplant, Cambina, dead-heat winner of the 2011 American Oaks as well as the
Providencia, La Habra and China Doll.
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