SIGHTSEEK TRIUMPHS AGAINST OLDER FILLIES
Sightseek, a 3YO daughter of Distant View out of Viviana, won
her first stakes against older fillies and mares. Sightseek, who
won the Gr.3 Raven Run in her last start, captured the Gr.2 Top
Flight Handicap by 1-¾ lengths. Trainer Bobby Frankel said, “She’s
an exceptional filly and I’m not scared of the older horses.” Among
the older mares in the race were 2002 Gr.1 winner Mandy’s Gold and
multiple Graded stakes winner Nasty Storm.
As the race unfolded, Sightseek sat several lengths back of 32-1
pacesetter Zonk. At the top of the stretch, it looked like anyone’s
race as four fillies moved within two lengths of Zonk. Sightseek
came to Zonk’s outside and edged away in the final sixteenth.
Sightseek covered the mile in 1:35.46.
Jerry Bailey, who rode the favored Sightseek, said his filly was
accidentally struck in the face by the whip of Zonk’s rider.
“Horses will do either one of two things when that happens. They
will either get discouraged or more determined. It made her more
determined. She’s pretty exceptional.”
Frankel added, “Horses don’t get hit in the face with the whip
that often. When it happens near the wire, they may not have time
to recuperate. I wasn’t sure we were going to get that filly
[Zonk]. I think the farther Sightseek goes, the better she will be.
I think she is definitely a Grade 1 filly.”
Frankel said he plans to send Sightseek to the $200,000 La Brea
Stakes (Gr.1) for three-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on December
28.
Date:
04 December 2002