Santa Rosa: Zeewat captures Cavonnier Juvenile

Zeewat, the only runner in the field with a race or a work over the track, pulled clear in the lance to capture Sunday’s $75,250 Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa.

With Russell Baze aboard, Zeewat sat in the middle of the field of five 2-year-olds in the six-furlong Cavonnier Juvenile. Native Treasure set the pace with modest fractions of 23.13, 46.89 for the first half-mile, running in front of two-time stakes winner Anytime Magic. Zeewat rallied along the inside and moved within a head of Native Treasure by the eighth pole. Odds-on favorite Anytime Magic began to drift out nearing the quarter pole and faded to last.

Zeewat put away Native Treasure and held off Condiment, who was making his debut, by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:12.33, nearly four lengths slower than filly Unusual Way’s winning time of 1:11.58 in Saturday’s Wine Country Debutante. My Best Bet was another half-length back in third. Zeewat paid $9.80 to win.

Zeewat, a $50,000 purchase by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and partner George Todaro at last September’s Keeneland yearling sale, earned $45,050 for his victory. A Harlan's Holiday colt, Zeewat won his debut by seven lengths at Santa Rosa on July 27 and has career earnings of $60,700.