Separationofpowers Separates From Field In G1 Frizette

ELMONT, NY – Klaravich Stables’ Separationofpowers stamped herself a big contender for the Breeders’ Cup, using a strong stretch run to clinch Sunday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park.

The Frizette is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with winner receiving an automatic berth in the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Saturday, November 4.

Off well from post 4 under Jose Ortiz, Separationofpowers settled just behind the leading pair of Strategic Dreams and Purrfect Miss through opening fractions of :23.26, :46.95, and 1:11.88. Off the far turn, Separationofpowers initially struggled to gain ground on the leaders as Caledonia Road began to gain ground on her outside. With a furlong to go, though, the Chad Brown trainee kicked into gear and took off from the field, crossing the line first by 3 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:38.66 for the mile-long main track event.

“She broke really well and I had an opportunity to put her in the clear early, and I think that was the key to win the race,” Ortiz said. “I put her in the clear and we went three-wide the whole way. The track is a little slow so I don’t pay attention to the (final time). She’s a little green when she’s around horses, but once she passed them, she jumped in the bit and gave me everything she had.”

Caledonia Road stayed on strong to take second by 8 1/4 lengths over Maya Malibu. After running side-by-side for the entire trip, Purrfect Miss beat Strategic Dreams to the wire by a head. Critique, Go, Wall of Compassion, Teen Angel, and Drama Run completed the order of finish.

After breaking her maiden on debut at Saratoga on July 30, Separationofpowers finished third next out in the 7-furlong Grade 1 Spinaway after getting into a pace duel with a rival and tiring in the stretch run. This time, the 2-year-old daughter of Candy Ride seemed to relish switching to a stalking trip.

“My staff deserves a lot of the credit,” Brown said. “She drew the rail in the Spinaway. She had gone wire-to-wire in her debut, so she was kind of forced. We’re confident (going to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies). I know it’s a tough division, there’s some horses out west who look very good. This horse always gave us the impression she would be better around two turns. You look at her pedigree and you look at her physically, how much she’s grown through the course of this summer, I’m excited to get her around two turns.”

Separationofpowers returned $5.90 to win, $3.80 to place, and $2.80 to show. Caledonia Road brought back $8.60 to place and $4.40 to show, while Maya Malibu paid $3.40 to show.

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