Zany works again in blinkers; will wear for CCA Oaks
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. − Zany, sixth as the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks, will be equipped with blinkers when she makes her next start in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here on July 25, trainer Todd Pletcher said.
On Saturday, Zany had her second workout in blinkers, going a half-mile in 49.30 seconds. She worked in company with the colt Emphasis, a debut winner last July at Saratoga who is on the comeback trail. Zany galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.15 and Pletcher clocked Zany out six furlongs in 1:15.72, and seven furlongs in 1:29.29.
“I don’t know that they make a huge impact, but I don’t think they make her headstrong,” Pletcher said about the blinkers. “I think it’s kind of time to shake things up a little bit.”
Zany, a daughter of American Pharoah, went 2 for 2 last year including a dominant 8 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct. She began her 3-year-old career with a facile victory in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa. After finishing second in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, Zany finished sixth, 5 1/2 lengths behind Always a Runner in the Kentucky Oaks where Zany was the tepid 5-1 favorite.
“She was a bit even, she just kind of got stuck in there and kept grinding away,” Pletcher said. “She never put herself in a position to really kick on and polish it off.”
Among the other workers for Pletcher on Saturday was Arkansas Derby winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade. He went a half-mile in 49.54 seconds in company with the older horse Grande, who galloped out a bit stronger than Renegade, who is preparing for the Jim Dandy here on Aug. 1.
“I thought it was a pretty good work,” Pletcher said. “The rider of [Grande] got carried away a little bit and did a little more on the gallop-out with Grande than we wanted to with Renegade this far out. He kind of wrapped up on him at the seven-eighths portion of the gallop-out. I thought coming to the wire [Renegade] was good.”
Pletcher said he has seen mostly positive signs from Renegade since his third-place finish as the favorite in the Belmont Stakes.
“We’ve had a pretty good go since the Belmont. His appetite’s been good he’s put on a little weight,” Pletcher said.
* An unraced 2-year-old filly by Not This Time and who is a half-sister to Skippylongstocking died after suffering an apparent cardiac collapse Saturday morning while galloping on the Saratoga main track.
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