Eblouissante Back in Action at Hollywood
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A smashing winner in her much anticipated debut Nov. 16,
Eblouissante, Zenyatta’s half-sister, will make her second start Saturday at
Betfair Hollywood Park.
Owned by breeder Eric Kronfeld and trained by John
Shirreffs, Eblouissante will have four opponents in the $48,000 optional
claimer for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track. It is the fourth
of 10 races on a card highlighted by the Grade I, $750,000-guaranteed CashCall
Futurity and Grade II, $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup.
A 3-year-old daughter of Bernardini, Eblouissante is out of
the prolific Kris S. mare Vertinigeux, who also produced the multiple stakes
winner Balance and Zenyatta, the 2010 Horse of the Year and winner of 19 of 20
in a spectacular career for Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss.
Stabled at Betfair Hollywood Park for more than three years,
Zenyatta won eight times in as many starts over Cushion Track, including an
unprecedented three victories in the Grade I Vanity Handicap (2008-2010).
A dark bay who was bred in Kentucky, Eblouissante debuted at
a longer distance than Zenyatta, who won at 6 ½ furlongs Nov. 22, 2007 at Betfair Hollywood Park,
but won in similar style, unleashing a powerful late run.
Seventh of eight under jockey Corey Nakatani for a good
portion of the 1 1/16 miles, Eblouissante made a sweeping move around the final
turn, collared pacesetter Saturday Nite Ride with a little more than a
sixteenth of a mile to run and drew off to win by 4 ¼ lengths.
The victory was worth $27,000 for Eblouissante, who has two
recorded drills over Cushion Track since the effort. She went a half mile in 52
2/5 seconds Dec. 2 and five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 a week later.
Nakatani will again ride Eblouissante, who will break from
post three and carry 121 pounds.
From inside out, the field also includes Glowing Spirit, Edwin
Maldonado rides, 124 pounds; The Only Key, Victor Espinoza, 124; Include the
Cat, Garrett Gomez, 124 and Toomanytomatoes, Rafael Bejarano, 121.
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