Zardana scores in Bayakoa

Zardana continued Shirreffs’ stellar run in 2009 (Benoit Photos)

Arnold Zetcher’s ZARDANA (Brz) (Crimson Tide) was content to stalk
the early pace set by defending champion Briecat (Adcat) in Saturday’s
$150,000

Bayakoa H. (G2) at Hollywood Park, engaged and put that one away in
midstretch, then drew off to score by 1 1/4 lengths under jockey Victor
Espinoza. Trained by John Shirreffs, who managed to take this race
despite leaving Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) heroine Life is Sweet
(Storm Cat) in the barn, the five-year-old Zardana paid $24, $9.80 and
$6.20 as the 11-1 sixth choice in the 10-horse field.

Briecat sprinted to the front from her outside post and angled in on
the first turn to set splits of :23 3/5, :46 4/5 and 1:10 3/5. Racing
just behind and to her outside was Lucky Copy (Unbridled’s Song), and
Zardana was tracking not far back while saving ground on the rail.
Zardana ranged up to run in tandem with Lucky Copy nearing the turn, and
while that one faded, she kept her momentum going to draw even with Briecat
through a mile in 1:35 3/5. Easily pulling away, Zardana finished up the
1 1/16-mile Cushion Track test in 1:42 1/5 to earn her first graded
victory.

Silver Swallow (Alphabet Soup) split rivals in midstretch to get up
for second, a half-length clear of Cat by the Tale (Tale of the Cat).
The gray mare returned $5.40 and $3.80 as the 7-2 second choice, while
Cat by the Tale was worth $4.40 at nearly 6-1. The $1 exacta gave back
$62.40 and the $1 trifecta totaled $339.70, while 11-1 shot Floating
Heart (Giant’s Causeway) ended the 2-3-4-6 superfecta ($1) that paid
$2,339.20.