Angelica Zapata goes for 11th career stakes win in Wasted Tears

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Angelica Zapata, a mainstay of the local filly-and-mare handicap division for the last several years, will try to add another stakes notch to her long list of accomplishments when taking on a full field in Saturday’s $90,000 Wasted Tears Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile turf stakes lured 15 fillies and mares, six of whom are trained by Marty Wolfson.

Angelica Zapata has won 11 times, with 10 of those victories coming in stakes. Despite this, she has made only 29 starts at the age of 6 and has been limited to racing exclusively in south Florida throughout her career. Trainer Ronald Pellegrini said this is due to some physical problems she has had over the years and the fact that she can be a handful in the paddock.

“She’s got her issues, and when she says, ‘I’ve had enough for the year,’ we give her a break,” said Pellegrini. “Until last year, she was always a real project in the paddock, so it’s made us a little timid about taking her out of town.”

Angelica Zapata is coming off an impressive 2 1/4-length victory going a mile on turf here Aug. 2 in the Soaring Softly Stakes. She won the Nancy’s Glitter Handicap going the same distance over the main track at Calder seven weeks earlier.

E B Ryder, who finished second in the Soaring Softly, is one of Wolfson’s half-dozen potential starters in the Wasted Tears. The others are Magical Steps, Golden Production, Lilbourne Eliza, Call Pat, and Swinger’s Party. Call Pat and Swinger’s Party were entered for the main track only.

Trainers Todd Pletcher and Tom Proctor also are represented in the Wasted Tears by Silsita and Lori’s Store, respectively. Silsita exits a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Violet at Monmouth Park, while Lori’s Store was a stakes winner this season at Tampa Bay Downs.

Key contenders

Angelica Zapata (Last 3 Beyers: 90-96-81)

* With rain in the forecast and a chance that the race could be moved to the main track, Pellegrini said, “I think she may actually be a little better on dirt than turf, and she loves the slop.”

* Angelica Zapata breaks from the rail, which should prove no problem, according to her trainer.

“She’s got tactical speed, and once she gets around that first turn, she pretty much knows what to do and steers herself,” said Pellegrini.

E B Ryder (Last 3 Beyers: 84-83-81)

* She was gaining ground on Angelica Zapata during the latter stages of the Soaring Softly and should benefit from the added distance and two-pound weight shift in the rematch.

Silsita (Last 3 Beyers: 84-89-85)

* This Pletcher trainee may have been facing slightly better up north this summer than she’ll encounter in her return to south Florida.

* Silsita loves the distance, with two wins and a second in three starts at 1 1/16 miles.