Vale Dori upsets, Abel Tasman a no-show in Zenyatta Stakes
Abel Tasman, who until Sunday was the expected Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite, likely lost that distinction when off the board in the Grade 1, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Instead, Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Vale Dori press the pace and went by to win, looking like a much sharper runner having added blinkers.
Abel Tasman was off at 1/9 facing just five rivals but spotted them all open lengths when away slow from the gate. She looked to be advancing up the back stretch, but the drive leveled off. She cantered under the wire fifth, well beaten when delivering a head-scratching performance.
Jockey Mike Smith told TVG he was unsure the issue with Abel Tasman.
"I'm kind of lost for words right now. The good thing is, she didn't run and get out-run. She didn't run period. For whatever reason she was just lethargic loading, real slow into stride and just really never wanting to pick it up.
"There's been a bit of a flu going around the backside and some of these horses. Hopefully it's not hitting her, but it certainly could have."
“When I saw Abel break horrible like that, it looked like shades of Arrogate at Del Mar in the San Diego," Baffert added. "Mike said after that she wasn’t interested and he didn’t push her, but that’s not the Abel that we know. She’s never run a bad one. He said she felt sound and all that but she was just completely lethargic...My main concern is that Abel’s OK and not getting sick on me.”
"She ran really hard," said jockey Joe Talamo. "Bob just told me to try and get her in a good rhythm -- first or second, which she was."
Vale Dori’s final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.88. The victory served as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the 1 1/8-mile Distaff set for Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.
A 6-year-old bred in Argentina, Vale Dori is campaigned by Shekh Mohamed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and won for the first time since May 7, 2017. Joe Talamo was in the irons Sunday.
"She works with Abel every morning," Baffert said. "She's been working well, but she's been working well all summer. She just wasn't showing the effort in the afternoon. Today she looked like she got her form back that he had last year, and it was good to see her win another Grade 1."