Sea Calisi impressive in defense of G2 Sheepshead Bay
by Najja Thompson
Making her first start of the year, for owner Martin S. Schwartz and trainer Chad Brown, multiple graded stakes winner Sea Calisi returned in top form, capturing the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay on Saturday at Belmont Park. Breaking from post 6 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons, Sea Calisi settled in sixth position as Zipessa set modest fractions of 24.84 seconds for the opening quarter with the half going in 49.83. As the field reached the quarter-pole Zipessa continued in front as Sea Calisi began to make her way from the two-path with Suffused closely tracking her traveling four-wide and set down at the top of the stretch to drive past her foes.
Extending her lead in the deep stretch, she secured victory by 2 ½ lengths, she completed the 1 3/8 miles in 2:16.83.
"I had a lot of horse and I went in comfortable," said Ortiz, Jr. "I didn't want Suffused to get out, so I made the move and got the jump on her. She's a big-time closer. When I asked her, she really moved. She's good from the distance."
Returning $4.20 for a $2 win wager to earn her second consecutive Sheepshead Bay victory, the 5-year-old French-bred boosted her career earnings to more than a million dollars with a current total of $1,015,513.
"She just had a little time off after the Breeders' Cup and Chad felt it was a good starting point for her," said Cherie DeVaux, assistant to Brown. "She won the race last year and it suits her. I thought she ran terrific. It'll be a really great race to start her off this year."
Following Suffused in second was Apple Betty. Achnaha, Zipessa and Voila La Victoire competing the order of finish.
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