Zeitlos gets ideal pace setup in Smart and Fancy win
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Asmussen was soaked from head to toe but still had a smile on his face when leaving the winner’s circle after Zeitlos rallied to a popular 1 3/4-length decision over Delightful Flame Friday at a suddenly soggy Saratoga in the $200,000 Smart And Fancy Stakes. The victory was the first ever on grass for the versatile Zeitlos and came during a flash rainstorm that downgraded the condition of the course from firm to yielding just prior to the race.
Zeitlos was getting some class relief dropping into the Listed Smart and Fancy off a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Caress here nearly five weeks ago. She also was the beneficiary of a hotly contested pace duel, one that seemed inevitable with the speedy pair of Miss Vyvyanne and Itzel breaking side by side before ultimately going eyeball to eyeball in the run down the backstretch.
Zeitlos was allowed to settle about six lengths off the embattled leaders under jockey Jose Ortiz. She began to advance while kept wide into the stretch and rallied down the center of the course to engage Delightful Flame for command at midstretch before gradually edging clear at the end.
Delighful Flame saved ground on the turn, angled out for the drive, and finished willingly while continuing on her left lead the length of the stretch but proved no match for the winner while holding off Le Amazonia by a neck to be second best. Me Governor finished fourth, followed by the tiring Itzel and Miss Vyvyanne. Praying finished last. Capturing was scratched in the paddock as a result of the late change in the turf condition due to the rain.
Zeitlos, a 6-year-old daughter of Curlin, is trained by Asmussen for owner Peter Leidel. She completed 5 1/2 furlongs over the boggy going in 1:06.44 and paid $4.76.
“She’d run some really nice races, but that was actually her first turf win. She was more than due,” Asmussen said after finally able to duck under cover and escape the rain following the winner’s circle festivities. “She’s a Curlin mare, better with age, and she’s still got a couple of good races in her. We’re very fortunate to have her.”
Asmussen was quick to admit he had a smile on his face while watching the race develop the way it did for his stretch-running mare.
“She really came out of the Caress in good shape. She trained beautifully and I thought this was the perfect spot,” Asmussen continued. “And, luckily, the weather didn’t get in her way.”
Asmussen said he’d see how Zeitlos comes out of the race before deciding on her next start, which would likely come either in the Grade 1 Ladies Turf Sprint on the grass at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 29 or the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on dirt, a race she finished third in last fall, at Keeneland on Oct. 3.