Hollywood Oaks winner Zazu headed to Alabama

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Zazu will be pointed for the $500,000 TVG Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 20, said trainer John Sadler.

Zazu won the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks at Hollywood Park on Saturday, catching Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty in the final furlong of the race over 1 1/16 miles.

Sadler said on Sunday that Zazu will have “a Blind Luck-like schedule” this summer. In 2010, Blind Luck finished second in the Hollywood Oaks, and won the Delaware Oaks and Alabama Stakes later in the summer. Blind Luck won five graded stakes in 2010 and was named champion 3-year-old filly.

The Hollywood Oaks was Zazu’s second graded stakes win this year; she won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita in February. Sadler said there is not sufficient time between the Hollywood Oaks and the Delaware Oaks on July 9 for Zazu to start in that race, but said the break to the Alabama Stakes makes that Grade 1 race over 1 1/4 miles more attractive.

“The Alabama is probably the next race,” Sadler said.

Sadler said Del Mar’s schedule of turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies would not be in the plans for Zazu, who races for Jerry and Ann Moss. The trainer said the 3-year-old filly division lacks a standout midway through the year.

“I think it’s up for grabs,” he said.

In the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks, Zazu closed from off the pace along the rail to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Plum Pretty. Zazu had finished third behind Plum Pretty in the Kentucky Oaks in her preceding start.

Trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday that Plum Pretty will ship out of California for her next start. While he did not state any specific plans, Baffert said that Plum Pretty’s owner, John Fort of Peachtree Stable, said he wanted to run the filly “in races with big pots.” The Alabama fits that plan.