A Record Breaking Santa Anita Oaks
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May Day Rose predictably took the lead as the field of
five fillies broke from the gate, A Z Warrior in close pursuit as the
undefeated Kilograeme took third. Those three ran a length clear of Turbulent Descent in fourth as Zazu took up the rear of the field, another length behind
Turbulent Descent. May Day Rose rolled through an opening quarter mile in :23.31
and the half in :46.67 with the positions unchanged. Turbulent Descent edged up
to be right behind Kilogaeme by the half mile point with a two length gap back
to Zazu. As the field approached the far turn May Day Rose began to inch away
from A Z Warrior as Turbulent Descent began to mount her rally. Zazu kicked it
into gear a moment later and the match was set from there. Midway around the
turn May Day Rose began to fall back as Turbulent Descent under a full head of
steam overtook A Z Warrior in the midst of making a bid for the lead and swept
to the front. Zazu was still two lengths back, matching Turbulent Descent
stride for stride. As the field came off the turn it was Turbulent Descent the
one to catch. Down the homestretch Turbulent Descent exploded to a two length
lead over A Z Warrior at the urging of jockey David Flores, blazing ahead with
determination. The scene changed in a matter of seconds as Zazu found her best
stride and began to gain ground with a tremendous rally. Turbulent Descent
continued to accelerate down the stretch as Zazu reached her flank, then surged
to within half a length of the lead.
The pair flashed under the wire nearly inseparable.
Turbulent Descent emerged victorious, finishing ahead of Zazu for the third
time in four meetings, this time by just a neck. She stopped the clock in a
stakes record time of 1:41.05, eclipsing the mark set by Bold ‘n Determined in
1980 for the 1 1/16 mile distance. A few strides after the finish Zazu had rolled
a length clear of Turbulent Descent and looked like she wanted to keep going.
After the race Turbulent Descent’s trainer Mike Puype
showed a great deal of discernment when talking about his charge. After stating
that he thinks Turbulent Descent is a brilliant filly and “tops” in the country
he said “I think she’s maxed out at a mile and a sixteenth.” He said the plan
is to point the talented filly to one turn Grade 1 races throughout the year such
as Belmont’s Acorn Stakes in June and Saratoga’s Test Stakes in August. “I’d
say the Kentucky Oaks is out of the picture” Puype stated in the winner’s
circle. I’m impressed with how level-headed Puype was after just winning a
Grade 1 race with a filly tons of people think has a good chance to win the
Kentucky Oaks and I would have to say I agree with his assessment. Turbulent
Descent could turn out to be much like Indian Blessing who won the 3-Year-Old
Filly Eclipse Award for her 2008 campaign that consisted mostly of one turn
races.
While the Kentucky Oaks is most likely out of the picture
for Turbulent Descent it became a more determined goal than ever for Zazu. She’s
the filly that won’t quit, in the last five starts of her career Zazu has been
flying at the end of her races, closing ground like an express train. Each and
every run she makes up more ground in less time and looks like a fresh horse
coming back after the race. She is going to love the extra sixteenth of a mile
in the Oaks and one thing you can count on with this filly is that she will be
flying at the end. That style sure served Blind Luck well last year. Could it
be that the Kentucky Oaks will be won by a come-from-behind filly two years
in-a-row? It’s still too early to make any predictions but Zazu looks better
and better every race. Trainer John Sadler was very happy with his filly’s
effort saying “She ran great, and she looks like she’ll be ready for the
Kentucky Oaks.” Owner Jerry and Ann Moss appear to once again have one of the
best female closers in the country. Zazu may not be a Zenyatta but she sure is
a classy replacement.
A Z Warrior finished more than 5 lengths back of the
fabulous duo up front in her first race since finishing last in the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Fillies in early November of last year, but she ran very well to
finish third more than 4 lengths ahead of Kilograeme. She should only improve
off this hard run effort next out, much like Turbulent Descent did in this race,
but her immediate goals are unclear for now.
[Is A Z Warrior ranked too high at #7 on HRN's 2011 Kentucky Oaks Contenders list?]
[Is A Z Warrior ranked too high at #7 on HRN's 2011 Kentucky Oaks Contenders list?]
Overall the Santa Anita Oaks produced two brilliant
efforts from two of the best sophomore fillies in the country, laid waste to a
30 year stakes record and gave fans an exciting, heart-pounding finish that is
sure to become a classic.
Photo Courtesy of Benoit Photo.
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