Undefeated Cavalieri hops at start but still wins Zenyatta

A less-than-ideal start following a 6 1/2-month layoff proved to be no problem for undefeated Cavalieri in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

After hopping at the start and trailing in the field of five fillies and mares, Cavalieri (3-5) gradually made her way to a stalking position right behind stablemate Richi (6-5) up the backstretch. Cavalieri wore Richi down to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths under Juan Hernández.

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“She was acting up. She was nervous,” Hernández said. “It had been a while since she had run, so she was excited. Even in the post parade she was dancing a little bit. ... But she recovered in three jumps.”

With the win Cavalieri improved to 5-for-5 for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Speedway Stables while also earning a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

“When she missed the break I thought, well, oh, well,” Baffert said. “But we knew that she is very talented.”

Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Richi out-footed a third Baffert-trained stablemate Howin (18-1) for the early lead and proceeded to set a moderate pace of 23.67 and 48.00 seconds for the opening half-mile. Cavalieri had secured a position just to the outside of Richi after the poor start.

Richi completed six furlongs in 1:11.60 and continued to lead at the eighth pole. In the final furlong Cavalieri surged to the front and won comfortably with a final time of 1:42.64 on the fast main track. Richi finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Howin in third with another 4 1/4 lengths back last year’s Zenyatta winner Sugar Fish (11-1).

“They went easy the first half, so I think that helped a lot,” Baffert said of Cavalieri’s performance. “I knew she was going to be a little rusty today. I didn’t think she was going to be that rusty in the gate, but she was. This will set her up perfectly for the Breeders’ Cup.”

This was Cavalieri’s first start since winning the Beholder Mile (G1) on March 8 at Santa Anita. A 4-year-old daughter of Nyquist, Cavalieri won her debut last August at Del Mar, cleared her first allowance condition in October at Santa Anita and then won the La Cañada (G3) in January.

Cavalieri was bought by Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner’s Speedway Stables for $900,000 at the April 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales auction. Sunday’s latest win pushed her earnings to $438,000 despite the poor start.

“I was scared,” Fluor said. “She usually comes out straight. She jumped up into the air, but I thought it was a gallant effort for not running for six months. Bob had her conditioned beautifully. At the backstretch I started feeling better, and at the top of the stretch I felt even better.”

Cavalieri paid $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Richi ridden by Antonio Fresu returned $2.20 and $2.10. Howin with Kazushi Kimura up paid $2.80.