DRF Breeding Standout: Spring Moon keeps wins coming for freshman sire Zensational

Spring Moon made an auspicious debut on Saturday at Del Mar, running unchallenged in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race and drawing off to win by four lengths under jockey Martin Garcia.

The 2-year-old gray or roan filly was the fourth winner from the first seven foals to race out of the debut crop of freshman sire Zensational, a multiple Grade 1 winner who stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington, Ky. for an advertised fee of $15,000.

Spring Moon finished in 1:04.31 on Del Mar’s Polytrack and earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure in her debut start. Bred in Kentucky by Mark Stansell, she was a $180,000 purchase at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale by owner Arnold Zetcher. Bob Baffert trains the filly.

Out of the unraced Seattle Slew mare Seattle Shimmer, Spring Moon is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2-placed winner Sway Away, who now stands at stud in California. Her second dam is Grade 2 winner Golden Gale, who produced Grade 3-placed winner Knights Cross and stakes-placed winner Bailzee.

Zensational, a 7-year-old Unbridled’s Song ridgling, currently ranks fifth among leading first-crop sires, with total progeny earnings of $121,485. His four winners tie him for second among his class thus far. Spring Moon is his leading earner with $45,000.