DEL MAR (CBS 8) - Win or lose at the Del Mar track, one thing's a safe bet: one female jockey is going to get a lot of attention.
From the day it opened when Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien welcomed patrons the track, Del Mar has always attracted Hollywood celebrities. This year, one of the biggest celebrities on the grounds won't be in the crowd -- she'll be in the saddle.
Thirty-five-year-old Chantal Sutherland is an actress and model featured in Vogue and Sports Illustrated and named by People magazine as one of their 100 most beautiful people, and she just happens to be one of the more successful jockeys on the Southern California circuit.
Chantal is a natural. A natural beauty, a natural in front of the camera and a natural in the saddle. Following a successful meet at Hollywood Park, where she won 23 races and earned over $1.3 million in purses, Chantal is spending her first full season competing at Del Mar.
"I've always wanted to come to Del Mar and it was one of my goals before I became a jockey," she said.
The Canadian native is looking forward to competition.
"I think this is one of the best jockey colonies in the world. I mean, I've ridden in New York and they're good, but these guys are really, really talented and everybody's healthy and working really hard. I find it to be very competitive," she said.
On Aug. 7, Chantal will be pitted in a match race against her former fiancé, jockey Mike Smith. The race is being billed as "The Battle of the Exes". Chantal is all in.
"I think it's sure to bring some interesting fans. I'm excited. I hope very badly that I get the opportunity to win, but Mike is a very talented rider and match racing is what he grew up with," Chantal said.
But on any day, on any surface, against anybody, don't count out the natural.