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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - "Do you think she's lost a step?"
Those were trainer Chad Brown's first thoughts as he walked into the winner's circle following Zagora's record-setting 1 1/2-length victory over Hungry Island in Saturday's $250,000 Ballston Spa at Saratoga.
Anybody who felt Zagora might not be quite the same filly she was a year ago after failing to kick on in defense of her title in the Grade 1 Diana had to believe otherwise after her performance on Saturday against a Grade 1 quality field in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.
[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]
Ridden confidently by Ramon Dominguez, Zagora rated within striking distance of a lively pace set by the Grade 1 winner Summer Soiree. Dominguez called upon Zagora as the field approached the stretch and she responded readily, rallying down the center of the firm course to easily wear down the tiring leader near midstretch and quickly pull well clear.
Hungry Island put in a strong late run of her own but proved no match for the winner. Summer Soiree gradually weakened to finish third while making her first start since November.
Zagora's final time of 1:39.07 shattered the old track standard of 1:39.92 for 1 1/16 miles over the inner course established by Leroidesanimaux on Travers Day in 2005.
Zagora, a 5-year-old daughter of Green Tune owned by Martin Schwartz, paid $5.
[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]
"This filly has had two really good works since the Diana, and in hindsight she probably really needed the race," said Brown.
"She loves Saratoga, especially when it's firm, and she just exploded today. Ramon rode her beautifully. Down the backstretch I was feeling pretty good. The field was pretty strung out, that was the only concern for me, but those fractions were pretty demanding and I knew she was ready to run, so when he tipped her out I figured it was pretty much over."
Brown said he might consider putting Zagora on the Polytrack for her next start, in Keeneland's Grade 1 Spinster.
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Closers really run well when turf is firm. Handicapping 101 I singled Z to fit in Willie Beamin, worked out great
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But you always have to call into question a track record when the second place horse also beats the record. The track must have been blazing bc the chance of two horses running a track record(on a 100+ year old track) are beyond infinitesimal unless the track was souped up.
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Great little horse!!! Gutsy Zagora!!! You go, girl!!
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Best Bets
MAGNIFCENTMILLION is obviously not today's "best bet" because of his exploits, other than running against Belmont Stakes-bound Giant Finish and allowance winner Glowing Ember last fall; rather, it's more an indictment against the others, along with the fact that the lone special-weight dropper is bred to love any moisture in the track. BROADWAY HAT is third off the bench for meet-leading trainer who saddled four winners Thursday; the half-empty view is he has burned chalk players time and again since last May.
