Purchased for just $500, the tenacious Gingerbread Man filly Chili Is Hot scored a fighting win in Saturday's Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m) at Belmont Park.
Ridden by Jason Whiting for owner/trainer Graeme Ballantyne, Chili Is Hot held the challenge of the favourite Sheza Chalmer by a half-head.
Sheza Charmer is a daughter of Vital Equine (IRE), who also sired third-placed Tri For Us and the unplaced Vital Times. Quite an achievement for a stallion with just ten named fillies in the crop.
It was the third win from five starts on the track for Chili Is Hot, who advances her record to four wins, one second, and one third from 13 starts with earnings of $234,000.
"She was at the sale that was on here a couple of weeks ago and was one of three or four we bought. We got her $500, and she has won an Oaks, Ballantyne said.
"Last prep, a few things went wrong for her. She raced up over a mile, but things just didn't go to plan, so she went out. This time in, she won over a mile, and this is the race we picked out.
"There did not seem to be a lot of pace in the race, but I left it up to Jason; he knows what he is doing."
Purchased by John Chalmers for $500 as a weanling out of the Gold Front Thoroughbreds draft at the 2018 Perth Winter Mixed Sale, Chili Is Hot is the first winner for the unraced Faltaat mare Society Gal. A sister to Group 1 HKJC Champions Mile winner Sight Winner, Society Gal is a granddaughter of the top-class stayer Duanette's Girl (Balmerino).
Society Gal has a yearling Awesome Rock colt named Red Sun Sensation and a weanling colt by the same stallion. She was bred back to the Group 1 winning son of Fastnet Rock again last season.
Chili Is Hot becomes the sixth stakes-winner for Yarrandale Stud's Gingerbread Man.
The son of Shamaradal (USA) stands for a fee of $5,500 in 2020.
