Paradise Woods wins trainer Shirreffs a Zenyatta Stakes

Paradise Woods provided trainer John Shirreffs with an emotional win while also earning an all-expenses paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff with a victory in the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Shirreffs was, of course, the trainer of the legendary Zenyatta throughout her brilliant racing career. To win a race named in her honor is a special moment, Shirreffs said. 

"My wife was almost in tears coming down here because she's going to present the trophy so she's really excited," Shirreffs said. "It's perfect."

Paradise Woods pressed the pace set by favored Secret Spice through fractions of :23.14, :46.83 and 1:11.30 for the 1 1/16-miles Zenyatta. Paradise Wood ranged outside to collar Secret Spice at the top of the lane and dug in gamely through the stretch to prevail in a time of 1:44.31. Secret Spice held second while Ollie's Candy checked in third.

“Mike told me you’ve got to keep her calm and she’ll try hard,” said Cedillo, a 30-year-old native of Guatemala, who had been the perennial leading rider at Golden Gate Fields prior to shifting his tack this past summer. “I kept her outside that other filly (Secret Spice) and everything worked perfect."

Shirreffs was pleased with Cedillo's ride and indicated the reason for the switch was concern Smith wouldn't be available in the Breeders' Cup. The up-and-coming Cedillo was awarded the mount as a result.

“We wanted her to break well and not get shuffled back and hopefully to be in the clear,” said Shirreffs. “In the past, she’s gotten shuffled back and got sucked behind horses, but today she broke well and was able to get to the outside. We weren’t sure if Mike (Smith) would be available for the Breeders’ Cup, so this was the time if you’re going to make a change.

"Abel has just been riding terrifically," Shirreffs added. "We got the hot rider at the right time."

A 5-year-old daughter of Union Rags, Paradise Woods also won the Zenyatta in 2017 while a 3-year-old and in the barn of Richard Mandella. She would go on to run third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar behind Forever Unbridled and Abel Tasman.

This year she won the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, but had lost her last two starts. They included a runner-up to Zenyatta runner LaForce and a fourth-place finish in the Clement L. Hirsch (G2) when she finished behind Ollie's Candy and Secret Spice and LaForce at Del Mar on July 28.

Paradise Woods is owned by HS Stable and Pam and Marty Wygod. After the race, Shirreffs noted they were contemplating retirement for Paradise Woods, but added it was Marty Wygod that convinced the team to stay the course.

"He was the one who had so much faith in her and wanted to see her run another year," Shirreffs said. "Turning for home, it seemed like she was maintaining her stride and she had good action all the way.”

Paradise Woods rewarded the faith with a six-figure payday and one more go-around Nov. 2 at Santa Anita in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff.