Social Chic won a spirited battled by a neck in Saturday’s $75,000 West Virginia Lottery Breeders’ Classic at Charles Town, the second consecutive stakes win for the 3-year-old son of Upstart (WATCH RACE).
The dark bay sophomore topped a terrific day for his sire, who also had maiden special weight winners at both Belmont Park and Laurel Park. With five stakes winners and nine stakes horses, Upstart ranks in the top three in both categories on the Second-Crop sire list.
After being restless in the gate, Social Chic broke very well and took the lead at the start of the seven-furlong contest. He was pressed through the first half-mile by Missionsninetynine, then the rest of the way by No Change, who actually took a brief lead at the top of the stretch, but was overtaken by a game Social Chic with a sixteenth to run.
The winner is owned by Smart Angle LLC and is 6-3-0 in 11 starts, with earnings of $178,297.
Social Chic was bred by James Franklin Miller and hails from the family of 2-year-old champion colt War Pass and Spinaway S. (G1) winner Oath.
At Belmont, the 2-year-old colt Zandon won on debut at six furlongs for owner Jeff Drown. Bred by Brereton Jones and sold for $170,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling sale, Zandon’s dam Memories Prevail has a yearling colt by Summer Front and a weanling filly by American Freedom. She was bred back to Cairo Prince for 2022.