$150,000 Cal Cup CTT/TOC Matron
ROYALLY CHOSEN

Benoit Photo

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2003) -- Royally Chosen overtook defending champion Super High at the top of the stretch and drew off to a 3 1/2-length win in Saturday's $150,000 California Cup CTT/TOC Matron at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Royally Chosen is a 5-year-old daughter of In Excess, out of the King of Kings mare Her Royalty, was bred by Old English Rancho and Headley. Old English Rancho either bred or co-bred Cal Cup winners My Sonny Boy, Softshoe Sure Shot, Flying Sensation and Fabulouspersuasion.

This was Royally Chosen's first stakes win and fourth victory overall in 13 races, raising her career earnings to $312,158. She is multiple graded stakes placed, having finished second in the Grade I La Brea and Grade II El Encino to Affluent.

Royally Chosen is owned by Abruzzo Johnston Vincent Et Al, is trained by co-breeder Bruce Headley and was ridden by Alex Solis. She went off as the 9-5 favorite and ran the 1 1/16 in 1:42.02, second fastest Matron ever. Sensational Eyes set the record of 1:41.55 in 1993.

Summer Wind Dancer, last year's Cal Cup Juvenile Filly winner, was second and Bartok's Blithe was third. Super High was fourth.

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