Soaring Softly choice Angelica Zapata fires nearly every time
Angelica Zapata didn’t dodge the big girls when they ventured south for the winter, as she picked up checks in three straight graded turf stakes. And even though the 6-year-old Angelica Zapata has raced just once in the last 5 1/2 months, it was a super-sharp effort, as she easily won the Nancy’s Glitter at Calder on June 14.
Now, Angelica Zapata returns to action as part of a competitive field of fillies and mares in the $75,000 Soaring Softly Stakes, a one-mile turf race that serves as the Saturday feature at Gulfstream Park.
“She’s a pretty honest horse,” said trainer Ron Pelligrini. “Usually, the only time she gets beat is when she gets in trouble. We really couldn’t ask for a nicer horse to take over there in the afternoons. She’s done everything.”
Angelica Zapata, a 10-time winner from 28 starts with more than $500,000 in earnings, has not finished worse than fourth since September 2011. She will have Santiago Gonzalez aboard when starting from the outside post in a field that will be limited to 10 starters, assuming the race stays on grass.
The Soaring Softly, named for the filly who won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 1999 at Gulfstream, is carded as the ninth of 11 races. First post is 1:15 p.m. Eastern, with the feature slotted for 5:30.
Soaring Softly Stakes, race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Angelica Zapata (Last 3 Beyers: 91-81-92)
◗ Consistency, versatility, and ratability are hallmarks, as she continues to succeed regardless of circumstances, be they surface, distance, layoffs, or competition. She will take some beating here with her regular effort.
◗ The outside post is a minor obstacle for Gonzalez to help overcome. The jockey rode in the United States for the first time in 2011, competing primarily at Delaware Park and Parx, before missing most of 2012 and all of 2013. He resurfaced at Gulfstream in mid-March.
E B Rider (Last 3 Beyers: 83-81-78)
◗ One of the seemingly innumerable stakes-caliber fillies from the Marty Wolfson barn, this 4-year-old has been off nine weeks – but no worries about that, as Wolfson shows spectacular numbers (a 34 percent win rate and a positive return on investment) given this type of layoff.
◗ Her name appears in the past performances of all but a handful of her opponents here, as she defeated five of them with a nifty late-running score in the May 31 Anka Germania over the Gulfstream turf.
Adriani (Last 3 Beyers: 63-82-75)
◗ One of two runners entered here by David Fawkes (the other is Glamour N Glory), she would do well to repeat her Anka Germania effort, when she stayed on nicely to be second to E B Rider at 19-1. The interim outing at Evangeline Downs seems worth forgiving because of the long trip to Louisiana and her unfamiliarity with the territory.