Cavalieri shrugs off bad start in Zenyatta, gains berth in BC Distaff

ARCADIA, Calif. – Undefeated filly Cavalieri is headed to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff as one of the top contenders after an eventful odds-on comeback victory Sunday at Santa Anita.

Despite hopping in the air and spotting her rivals at least three lengths at the start of the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes, Cavalieri ($3.40) reeled in slow-pace front-running stablemate Richi to win the Zenyatta by 1 3/4 lengths and earn a fees-paid berth into the BC Distaff.

Bob Baffert trains Cavalieri for Speedway Stables owner Peter Fluor; Baffert also trains runner-up Richi and third-place finisher Howin. The $1 all-Baffert trifecta paid $8.30. Sugar Fish and La Kika finished fourth and fifth in the five-runner field.

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Despite a layoff of more than six months after winning the Grade 1 Beholder Mile in March at Santa Anita, the market expected odds-on Cavalieri to win the Zenyatta. Then the gates opened and the front-runner found herself in last place.

“I didn’t think she’d be that rusty in the gate,” Baffert said. “But she was rusty. This will set her up perfectly for the Breeders’ Cup.

Hernandez has ridden Cavalieri in all five starts, and knows her well. “She was acting up, she was nervous,” he said. “Even in the post parade she was dancing a little bit.” Cavalieri was still antsy inside the gate, and leapt in the air when the doors opened. She was away last.

The jockey said Cavalieri “recovered in three jumps.” Cavalieri got into stride and was able to establish a forward position on the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile race. But stablemate Richi was having things her own way. She went the opening half-mile in a leisurely :48.

No problem for Cavalieri. She challenged outside Richi on the far turn, and sped home in a quick 1:42.64. The time was noteworthy, considering the slow-opening half-mile and Cavaleiri’s six-month layoff.

“Juan didn’t panic," Baffert said. "He was patient with her. She’s just so talented, and the farther the better for her.”

Cavalieri will stretch to 1 1/8 miles for the BC Distaff, while Baffert-trained runner-up Richi will shorten to seven furlongs for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Cavalieri, a 4-year-old filly by Nyquist, has now won five races and $438,000 from five starts.

“It was a good race for her, she didn’t take a deep breath,” Baffert said. But he cautioned, “she can’t break like that in the Breeders’ Cup.”

The win was the seventh for Baffert in the Zenyatta, including twice when the race was called the Lady’s Secret.

Baffert will head to the BC Distaff with two contenders. He also trains Grade 1 winner Seismic Beauty, who skipped the Zenyatta and will train up. Baffert has started 10 runners in the BC Distaff; 2017 runner-up Abel Tasman is the only one to hit the board.

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