Zany’s victory in the Grade II Demoiselle Stakes on Dec. 6 at Aqueduct stamped her as a filly with a bright future.
The 3-year-old daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah turned up the klieg lights in the $125,000 Suncoast Stakes, taking command on the far turn under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., and virtually coasting to a 2 ¾-length victory from Life of Joy. Pacesetter Kadabra, like Zany trained by Todd Pletcher, finished third.
Zany, who had also been nominated to the Sam F. Davis Stakes, completed the mile-and-40-yard distance in a time of 1:40.56. She paid $2.40 to win. First-place money of $60,000 raised her career earnings to $221,500, but that seemed secondary to owner Mike Repole of Repole Stables and a virtual cast of thousands that descended on the winner’s circle after the race to celebrate the unbeaten beauty’s third lifetime victory.
Zany earned 20 “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” qualifying points with her performance, and anyone who saw the race will carry a fervent hope until May 1 she makes it to that race. She already appears to be following in the footsteps of Repole and Pletcher’s 2022 Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, Nest, who began her campaign with a victory in the Suncoast Stakes.
“Zany is a special, special filly,” said Repole, whose postrace enthusiasm could be used as a recruiting pitch for prospective Thoroughbred owners. “To be a (Kentucky-bred daughter of) American Pharoah out of an Uncle Mo mare (Mo’ Green). … she’s just a very special horse.
“This is her third public workout – that’s the way I would put it,” Repole said. “She was four-wide early and Irad got her inside and outside and when he shook her up, she kind of ducked in and out. Maybe she doesn’t know what to do yet when she is asked, but she is just naturally gifted, amazing.”
Ortiz sounded as if he didn’t have as many anxious moments as Repole experienced from his box. “It was a little slow going into the first turn, so I decided to wait,” said Ortiz, who had ridden her to an 8 ½-length victory in the Demoiselle. “When I got her into the clear (around the half-mile pole), she did the rest.
“The Demoiselle was just her second time out and it was going a mile-and-an-eighth, and she surprised me that day. I expected a good race from her today, and she didn’t disappoint me.
“She was floating on the second turn and I felt so good going to the quarter-mile pole,” Ortiz added. “That’s just a special feeling.”
Reached by telephone, Pletcher was effusive in his praise.
“I think she’s still learning. She’s an extremely talented filly that’s still doing most of it on natural talent, it seems,” he said.
“I liked the first turn.,” Pletcher continued. “She got in behind horses and got some kickback and all that, which is good experience for her. Turning for home she was a little late on her lead change and kind of drifted about and was looking around. It’s a tribute to her talent that she’s able to win impressively while still learning how to finish off a race.
“The fractions were pretty slow,” Pletcher noted. “She was in behind a wall of horses for a little while but that was good (experience). She’s been in the clear in her first two starts so we were happy to get some education.
“I think there’s room for improvement. She was green down the lane and took a little while to switch leads. But once she got clear she pricked her ears and was looking at everything.”
In the $125,000, 6-furlong Minaret Stakes for older fillies and mares, favored 5-year-old Florida-bred mare Mystic Lake broke on top and turned her speed up a notch after being headed briefly on the turn for home by longshot Sandy’s Garden, powering to a 7 ½-length victory from late-running Summer’s Comin. Admiral Hopper finished third.
The 6-5 second choice Ms. Bucchero, who had defeated Mystic Lake on Dec. 20 at Gulfstream Park in the Sugar Swirl Stakes, lost all chance after hopping at the start and finished fifth.
The fleet-footed Mystic Lake, who departed from the inside post with reigning two-time Eclipse Champion Jockey Flavien Prat in the irons, went right to the front and used her considerable speed to set fast fractions of 22.41 for the quarter-mile, 45.58 for the half and 57.63 for 5 furlongs before crossing the wire in 1:10.34 on the fast track. She drew off through the lane while widening her margin with every stride.
Now 12-for-22 lifetime, first-place money of $77,500 raised her career bankroll to $1,537,517. Mystic Lake is owned by Miller Racing, BAG Racing Stables and Stefania Farms and trained by Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
“She broke very sharp and I felt like I was traveling well throughout, and she sure made a good run,” said Prat, who gave Mystic Lake a little breather on the turn for home and was rewarded with an explosive stretch kick. “I felt like I had horse underneath me, but the first quarter-mile was quite quick and I just wanted to give her a chance.”
That apparently was all Mystic Lake wanted, too.
“I thought she was more fit than last time (the Sugar Swirl),” Joseph said. “She is 3-for-3 now at Tampa and has been a model of consistency. You’re always concerned if she is going to kick in, but when she kicks in you feel pretty good.”
Mystic Lake paid $3.40 to win.
Lynne Snierson contributed to this report.
