Crystal Cliffs tops Gallorette

BALTIMORE – Crystal Cliffs has raced sparingly since coming to the United States in 2020, but when she has appeared, she has been sharp. The mare has not missed the board in her five starts in this country and returned from her latest layoff with a victory.

Crystal Cliffs stands on the precipice of her first graded stakes score, in the Grade 3, $150,000 Gallorette Stakes for fillies and mares on turf Saturday at Pimlico.

Crystal Cliffs made her first two starts in 2019 in her native France, including an eightlength maiden victory that December before coming to the United States and joining Graham Motion’s barn at Fair Hill, just a short van ride from Pimlico. She won an allowance race in her U.S. debut, in May 2020 at Churchill Downs, and the following month was second by a head there in the Grade 3 Regret to Harvey’s Lil Goil, a Grade 1 winner later that season.

Crystal Cliffs made two starts in 2021, finishing second by a nose in the Dahlia Stakes on this Pimlico course, and deadheating for third in the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth in June. In her only start since, Crystal Cliffs was a 2 3/4-length winner of the Sand Springs on April 2 at Gulfstream. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“She has had some on-and-off physical issues since she came over from Europe,” Motion said. “I have been happy with her since she came back this time. She looks like a bigger, stronger filly.”

Tyler Gaffalione, aboard in the Sand Springs, has the return mount on Crystal Cliffs, who prefers to rally from back in the field. She will not have much traffic to contend with in a field of just seven, but may have to overcome a lack of pace.

Morning-line favorite Technical Analysis could get loose on the lead. Technical Analysis won two graded stakes last summer at Saratoga, then was second in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland to stablemate Shantisara. Both are trained by Chad Brown, who excels with turf females. Technical Analysis returned from a six-month winter break to be second to Plum Ali after leading in the stretch of the Plenty of Grace at Aqueduct.

Technical Analysis drew post 4 under Jose Ortiz.

Scarabea led in the stretch of the Grade 3 Orchid going 1 1/2 miles on April 2 at Gulfstream. She faded to fifth, but did earn a 90 Beyer, which places her in range of the favorites. In her next outing, Scarabea cut back to 1 1/16 miles and finished fourth in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, beaten a head for third.

Completing the field are In a Hurry, second in the Dahlia at Laurel last out, Foggy Dreams, Karakatsie, and Out of Sorts.