Absolutely Zero looks like dad in winning Fasig-Tipton Futurity

ARCADIA, Calif. - Absolutely Zero reminded jockey Mario Gutierrez of one of his favorite runners when the 2-year-old filly beat males in her stakes debut in Saturday’s $102,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity at Santa Anita.

“She’s like her dad,” Gutierrez said. “She’s very competitive.”

Absolutely Zero is by Nyquist, whom Gutierrez rode to a win in the 2016 Kentucky Derby and six other stakes.

Absolutely Zero earned the win in the Fasig-Tipton Futurity. Sent off favored, Absolutely Zero ($3.80) disputed the pace, took a narrow lead while racing on the inside entering the stretch and fought off a threat from stablemate Tahoma to win by a length.

Absolutely Zero ran five furlongs in 59.09 seconds and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 66.

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Tahoma, a Justify colt trained by O’Neill and ridden by Juan Hernandez, gave Gutierrez a brief scare in early stretch.

“I saw him and she saw him,” Gutierrez said. “It was a challenging race for her. I asked everything and she gave everything.”

Tahoma (3-1) finished a half-length in front of 6-1 Pure Fire, a first-time starter.

Pop d’Oro finished fourth, followed by Salta, Castleknock, Midnight Lightning, Good N Thirsty and Smoken Howard.

Absolutely Zero is unbeaten in two starts for owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam. A California-bred, Absolutely Zero won a maiden special weight race against open company fillies on May 21. Absolutely Zero has earned $112,260 in her two starts.

DEBUTANTE RECAP

The first-time starter Stone Silent ran like a veteran in Saturday’s $100,500 Fasig-Tipton Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

One of two debut runners in a field of six, Stone Silent broke sharply and took an early lead under jockey Ramon Vazquez. Stone Silent led by 2 1/2 lengths on the turn and pulled clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths as the 3-1 second choice.

Stone Silent ($8) ran five furlongs in 58.28 seconds and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

“I worked her and she showed she was a nice filly,” Vazquez said. “She showed everything she had.

“I was worried a little bit about the start. In the mornings, she broke well, but in the race it is different.

“She broke so nice. At the quarter-pole, I knew she’d win easy. I had so much horse.”

Tom’s Regret, the 3-5 favorite, recovered from a stumble at the start to finished second, 4 3/4 lengths clear of 7-1 E Z Pharis. Dancing Mo finished fourth, followed by Rousing Jewel and Paddle On Polly.

Tom’s Regret was beaten for the first time in her third start. She won a maiden special weight race for California-bred fillies on April 15 and the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes against males at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Stone Silent, a Florida-bred by Adios Charlie, was purchased for $410,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in March of this year. Stone Silent races for the partnership of Michael Talla, West Point Thoroughbreds and Edwin Barker and trainer John Sadler.

Stone Silent earned $60,000.

O’Neill said he entered Absolutely Zero in the Debutante to avoid a start against Tom’s Regret.