Zazu, Turbulent Descent face-off in Santa Anita Oaks

Last updated: 3/2/11 8:16 PM

Turbulent Descent just could not catch Zazu (gray) in the Las Virgenes
(Benoit Photos)

ZAZU (Tapit) had fallen to TURBULENT DESCENT (Congrats) in their two meetings
prior to the February 5 Las Virgenes S. (G1) at Santa Anita, and finally managed
to turn the tables in that one-mile affair when scoring by 1 1/4 lengths over
her rival. On Saturday, the pair will face-off for a fourth time in the $250,000
Santa
Anita Oaks (G1) while stretching back out to 1 1/16 miles.

Zazu suffered her first loss to Turbulent Descent when the duo made their
stakes debuts in the November 21 Moccasin S., with the John Sadler trainee
running second by 1 1/2 lengths. She was never really into the race in their
next meeting, the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) on December, and finished fifth. The
gray lass parted ways with her rival when going in the Santa Ynez S. (G2) at
Santa Anita in her three-year-old bow, and just missed by a neck when rallying
from last in that seven-furlong test.

That was Zazu’s first start on a conventional dirt surface and she proved it
to be no fluke when holding off Turbulent Descent last out in the Las Virgenes.

“She has a short run and she wants to close,” Sadler explained. “In some of
those other races, it hadn’t played that way.”

Joel Rosario, aboard for Zazu’s last two starts, retains the mount while
going for two Grade 1 wins in a row.

Turbulent Descent entered the Las Virgenes undefeated, but probably needed
the race off the break, according to trainer Mike Puype.

“She hasn’t run in eight weeks,” he said afterward. “She probably got a
little tired. It was a good race. She just got outrun today.”

The Florida-bred miss immediately posted a bullet workout when returning to
the tab in late February, and will keep regular rider David Flores aboard as she
stretches back out to the 8 1/2-furlong distance over which she captured the
Starlet.

A Z Warrior makes her return in the Santa Anita Oaks
(Melissa Wirth/Horsephotos.com)

The Santa Anita Oaks drew only five runners, but three of those are already
Grade 1 winners. A Z WARRIOR (Bernardini) completes the trio of top class
runners as she makes her return to competition following a last-place finish in
the November 5 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The Bob Baffert charge
entered that event off an easy front-running score in the Frizette S. (G1) at
Belmont Park. She’s also been working bullets in preparation for her
three-year-old debut, and will get a rider switch to Rafael Bejarano here.

Another familiar name in the Santa Anita Oaks is the Baffert-trained MAY DAY
ROSE (Rockport Harbor). The bay lass went wire-to-wire in winning the Santa
Ysabel S. (G2) on January 9 and dueled in the early going of the Las Virgenes
before fading to fourth. Martin Garcia guided May Day Rose in her maiden victory
and when she scored the Sharp Cat S., and will take back the mount from the
Bejarano.

Completing the field is KILOGRAEME (Graeme Hall), who will be making her
stakes bow in the Santa Anita Oaks for trainer Mike Mitchell. The chestnut lass
posted a half-length win to take her maiden debut, then returned on February 13
to defeat the highly regarded Rumor (Indian Charlie) in an allowance test.
Garrett Gomez has the return call.

One race after the Santa Anita Oaks, nine turf distaffers have been entered
to go about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course in the $75,000

Clocker’s Corner H.

Multiple Grade 3 queen UNZIP ME (City Zip) looks to continue her domination
of the distaff turf sprinting ranks following a win in the Monrovia S. (G3) over
the returning BROKEN DREAMS (Broken Vow) and REBA IS TOPS (He’s Tops). Prior to
that race, Unzip Me faced the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2) and
finished a nice third while going five furlongs.

Reba is Tops was on course to be retired following her win in the Wishing
Well H. on January 29, but will go in at least the Clocker’s Corner before
heading to the breeding shed. A good enough performance in Saturday’s event
could see her final start actually come in the Las Cienegas H. (G3) on April 9.