Vinery stallion Testa Rossa reached a season-high 200 wins in Australia on Wednesday and hours later his California based son Blue Chagall won the Listed Wickerr Stakes on turf at Del Mar.
Testa Rossa sired Blue Chagall when he shuttled to France from his original base at Yallambee Stud in Victoria. The gelding was a G3 winner of the Prix des Chenes at Longchamp before relocating to trainer Julio Canani in the United States.
Blue Chagall (Fr) opened his Californian account in an allowance event at Del Mar in August 2009 and he graduated to a three-length win in the Listed Lure Stakes at Santa Anita in October.
Blue Chagall (5g Testa Rossa – Eloisey by Pitskelly) had been unplaced in subsequent appearances at Group 1 and Group 2 level and appreciated the drop back in grade on Wednesday. The gelding ran the 1600m of the Wickerr Stakes in 1:34.19s under a ground-saving ride by David Flores. He finished over a length ahead of long-time leader Aggie Engineer.
Blue Chagall is owned by Prestonwood Racing and has won 5 of his 22 starts. Canani said the winner will reappear again in the G2 Del Mar Mile on turf on August 28.