09/13/2012 4:08PM

Santa Anita: Reneesgotzip to take on Amazombie in Santa Anita Sprint Championship

By Brad Free
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Benoit & Associates
Reneesgotzip will face Amazombie in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

POMONA, Calif. – The sprint division in California just got a lot more interesting.

Reneesgotzip, the 3-year-old filly who blazed to a 1:08.23 comeback win Sept. 5 at Del Mar, will step outside her division to face champion Amazombie on Oct. 6 in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, a six-furlong stakes formerly named the Ancient Title.

Trainer Peter Miller announced Thursday that Reneesgotzip would target the $250,000 Sprint Championship, with an eye toward the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“She loves Santa Anita, three-quarters is better for her, and it’s a Win and You’re In,” Miller said. “Amazombie is a good horse, but I think the fillies are better than the colts.”

The top filly-mare sprinters include Turbulent Descent, Groupie Doll, and Winding Way.

Reneesgotzip had been off four months when Miller brought her back in the CERF Stakes at Del Mar off an abbreviated training pattern.

“I worked her only four times in three months,” Miller said. “She wasn’t fit and tight, but she earned a 100 Beyer and almost broke the track record. She’s just an amazing filly.”

The Lanni Family Trust owns Reneesgotzip, who has won four races and $314,600 in six starts. She won the Grade 2, seven-furlong Santa Ynez in January at Santa Anita and finished second in two Grade 1 routes at Santa Anita – the Las Virgenes at one mile and the Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles.

Options for Reneesgotzip against fillies and mares include the $100,000 L.A. Woman Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 7 and the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at seven furlongs on Nov. 3.

Reneesgotzip is expected to set the pace in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. To win, she must hold off 6-year-old gelding Amazombie, who won the stakes last year and clinched an Eclipse Award for champion sprinter by subsequently winning the BC Sprint at Churchill Downs.

Eric Rickard More than 1 year ago
Fillies beat the males many times in sprints. I have not looked at the entries or the PPS for this race. Remember, pace makes the race.
Suzanne Thomas More than 1 year ago
I'd like to see more owners/trainers run their fillies/mares in the colt/horse races. Remember how Rachel Alexandra's owner at the time said NO WAY would he race her in the Triple Crown races, but when Jess Jackson purchased her, he had no such qualms, and she WON the Preakness! If I didn't love the Zombie so much, I'd root for Renee!
redboy More than 1 year ago
Whe cares if she can beat The Factor! She'll be another ZOMBIE victim!
redboy More than 1 year ago
Amazombie will run her down and run her over! where does this stuff come from? She ran against nobody in a non Graded stakes race, Now she's ready to take on the Best males in the country? Next they'll have you beleiving she coulda,shoulda,woulda won the Triple Crown! Quick drinking the Kool-aid !
RunningDog More than 1 year ago
This filly would blow The Factors doors off at 6 furlongs.
Jordan More than 1 year ago
The presence of Renee would likely make Baffert reconsider running The Factor in that spot, if he's even considering it in the first place. Renee is every bit as quick as The Factor, and The Factor has yet to prove he can consistently win races when challenged on the front end. Baffert's best BC Sprint prospect, and best 6 furlong runner, is Roman Threat. However, that guy has vanished since his win in the LA Cap.
redboy More than 1 year ago
you better take a look at Capital Account! Younger version of Amazombie.