Picture: Sue Kawczynski/Eclipse Sportswire
Regardless of the cash invested, the standard horses and the large race wins, proprietor Mike Lepore has but to win the Kentucky Derby. The outspoken New Yorker has by no means gained a championship. kentucky oaksfor that matter. Nobody is aware of when his Derby might be, however there could also be a filly that may make a critical run within the 2026 Oaks. I used to be kidding.
$250,000 guess on 3-4 favorites in Grade 2 damsel stakes On Saturday, Daughter of American Pharoah handled 5 different decided younger fillies badly when she scored on the straight at Aqueduct and gained simply by 8 1/2 lengths.
Tuned by Les Paul mainstay and Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher, Zany entered the nine-furlong Dumoiselles having solely skilled a flashy debut win.
His first win got here 5 weeks in the past at Gulfstream Park, the place the $350,000 yearling made an awesome first impression, working away from his closest rival by 6 1/2 lengths.
She ran quick from begin to end that afternoon in South Florida, however it was solely her first race of six furlongs. How would she react if she stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in opposition to a filly stakes opponent? Nearly all of bettors had little doubt and their confidence was rewarded.
Ridden by high rider Irad Ortiz Jr., Zanny seemed just like the winner till he lapped the Huge A Oval as he broke effectively and commenced following the early tempo set by Tempted Stakes winner Schilling.
Because the horse set strong first-half occasions of 24.05, 48.16, and 1:12.46, Ortiz sat impassively within the saddle, showing to have a ton of horses under him as Zenny chased the lead.
Heading dwelling, Zanny made his transfer, and Dumoiselle was rapidly decided. As she strutted down the lane, she left little question as to which filly was the perfect.
The Leaping the Gun and Concurrent pair tried to come back again from behind and simply handed Schilling within the straight line, however the second and third place riders merely gave approach to the very spectacular winner.
Zanny reached the end line and stopped the clock with a really strong last time of 1:50.55. It was the second quickest race within the final 11 years.
Bred by DJ Secure in Kentucky, the maroon filly was sired by a Triple Crown champion who confirmed velocity over 12 furlongs within the Belmont Stakes. Zanny might be absent from Uncle Moe’s mare Mawgreen, who gained the nine-furlong High Flight (G3) at Aqueduct in 2017.
With the win, Zaney earns 10 factors towards qualifying for subsequent spring’s Kentucky Oaks. Extra importantly, she has confirmed to be a top quality filly who can go the space.
As a comparability to Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Zanny ran 0.42 seconds quicker than Paladin’s robust efficiency within the Remsen Stakes (G2) stallion victory just a few races later within the afternoon.
Given the decidedly combined ends in Grade 1 races for 2-year-old fillies in 2025, it could be exhausting to call a filly that was extra spectacular than Zanny’s efficiency at Dumoiselle. Truly, I am unable to consider one.
Undefeated in his first two fights however nonetheless untested, Zany will enter the brand new yr on a really small listing of potential candidates to put on the Yuri on Might 1, 2026. She might lastly be the filly to deliver proprietor Mike Lepore a traditional success at Churchill Downs.
