Repole Stable’s Kentucky-bred Chocolate Gelato made her stakes debut a winning one on Saturday, Oct. 1, taking the $400,000 Frizette S. (G1) at the Belmont at the Big A meet for trainer Todd Pletcher. The impressive victory earned Chocolate Gelato a place in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Nov. 4 at Keeneland as the Frizette is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier.

Chocolate Gelato entered the 75th running of the Frizette following an 8 ½-length maiden victory at Saratoga on Aug. 14. After shying at the start of the Frizette, Chocolate Gelato raced in fifth position early in the compact field of six. Racing three-wide through the far turn, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. nudged his mount to a clear path nearing the five-sixteenths. Chocolate Gelato collared pacesetter You’re My Girl around the three-sixteenths pole and edged clear late to defeat that stubborn rival by one length at the finish over the sloppy and sealed main track.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Chocolate Gelato is by Practical Joke out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Special Treat.

“She settled through and handled the mile really well,” Pletcher said. “I liked the way she turned off, and it gives you the impression two turns is going to be within her range. I think she got there a little bit early and was waiting a bit. She [You’re My Girl] didn’t give up—that’s a nice filly. She fought back, so I was proud of our filly for staying on to the wire. That was a nice field she beat.”

Bred in Kentucky by Vincent Colbert, Chocolate Gelato was purchased by Repole Stable at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale at Gulfstream Park for $475,000 after initially changing hands in the ring at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Sale for $165,000 as a yearling.

Prior to her maiden victory, Chocolate Gelato was third in her career debut at Saratoga. “Mike [Repole] and I talked about it after the race. After the first week at Saratoga, that first group of babies that we ran—I don’t think we were expecting the track to be as demanding as it was,” Pletcher shared. “I don’t think a lot of our 2-year-olds were as fit as we thought they were. She’s a perfect example of one who improved a lot in her second start.”

Chocolate Gelato will try to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Frizette winner, Echo Zulu, who went on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in her next start.