by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — Shortly after Creme de Cocoa commenced her education, D.R. Ackerman, who trains and pilots the filly, realized this baby possessed quite a bit of ability.

“She’s beautifully gaited and could go right from the beginning,” said the 52-year-old Warren, Michigan, resident.

The New Jersey-bred daughter of freshman sire Chocolatier and the Garland Lobell mare Judge Judy is a homebred for owner Doug Ackerman Stables Inc., who also raced both of Creme de Cocoa’s parents.

From eight career starts, the filly has earned $270,500 and captured three races, including the $71,000 American- National final on September 22 at Balmoral Park in a lifetime best 1:56.3 and the $161,800 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake at Indiana Downs on August 25. Creme de Cocoa also finished second in the $437,000 Merrie Annabelle Final on August 7 at the Meadowlands at odds of 50-1. In that race she hit the wire in front of the eventual Breeders Crown third place finisher Fitness Girl.

Balmoral Park photo

Creme de Cocoa has banked $270,500 as a juvenile with three wins in eight starts.

Unfortunately, Creme de Cocoa failed to advance to the Breeders Crown Final on October 9 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs after breaking in her elimination on October 1 and finishing fifth.

“That was a bad day,” Ackerman remembered. “The wheels came off that night and all I can say is it just wasn’t her night. She’s not a breaker and has always been perfect, but that night she was imperfect. Hopefully she got it out of her system, because we don’t want that in there.”

Creme de Cocoa’s coat does not have the same hue as her sire, who was and still remains an outstanding looking individual, but it appears she has inherited some of his other physical qualities besides his world-record setting speed.

“She’s not as dark as Chocolatier, but she’s a very pretty filly and is tall with long legs,” Ackerman explained. “She has a very, very nice conformation and while Chocolatier is a beautiful horse and looks even better now, Judge Judy is also a very nice-looking mare.”

Her conditioner doesn’t require too much of Creme de Cocoa between her racing engagements.

“We don’t train her too hard, as she’s a little touchy sometimes and stays pretty fit on her own,” Ackerman said. “We don’t do too much with her.”

Ackerman also thinks it doesn’t really matter how a race sets up in order for Creme de Cocoa to perform at her best.

“She’s absolutely perfect (to drive),” he said. “It doesn’t matter how you race her. She’s actually improved a lot throughout the year and enjoys her work. The times I raced her from behind she did really well and when I raced her on the lead she’s done well, too. It doesn’t make a difference, with her; she just goes.”

The filly will next race in Thursday’s (Oct. 14) seventh race, which is an $88,500 Bluegrass Series division at The Red Mile. She will leave from post five and will compete against seven rivals.

“(After Thursday) she will race again in Lexington next week and hopefully if all goes well, she’s off to Canada for the Goldsmith Maid,” Ackerman said. “She needs to make up for that bomb she threw in a couple weeks ago (at the Breeders Crown eliminations,) so she won’t be getting much rest. She’s a very, very nice filly. In fact, she couldn’t be a nicer horse.”