Zeitlos rallies up the rail to take TCA Stakes
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Zeitlos came up the fence and whistled past Spirit Wind to capture the Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths on Saturday at Keeneland.
Jose Ortiz niftily shifted his mount down to the rail in midstretch and Zeitlos came inside her tiring Steve Asmussen-trained stablemate Clearly Unhinged and a staying-on Spirit Wind to win going away.
Spirit Win, patiently stalking Clearly Unhinged’s splits of 21.54 and 44.57 under Mike Smith, briefly loomed a winner but couldn’t match late strides with Zeitlos while coming home 2 1/2 lengths better than third-place Brightwork, the 9-5 favorite. Zeitlos clocked 1:09.52 for six furlongs over a fast track.
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Zeitlos ($9.46) had landed the $300,000 Open Mind Stakes on Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs and finished off a lucrative three weeks with aplomb Saturday.
“I was hesitant to wheel her back off such a big race the other day,” said Asmussen, who trains Zeitlos for Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel. “She ran as good as she ever has and what a great day to do it.”
The homestretch move capped off an excellent ride from Ortiz. Zeitlos broke from post 5, raced last of six in the early stages, and was guided inside Run for the Hills and Red Carpet Ready in the first furlong. Skipping along the fence, Ortiz came out one path to split those same two rivals past the half-mile pole, getting back down the rail before the three-sixteenths marker. He bided his time bending for home, steering left as Clearly Unhinged drifted outside.
“I just wanted to wait as long as I could. I was in good range at the quarter pole, and I had a ton of horse. I saw the rail open up and I went for it,” Ortiz said.
Clearly Unhinged faded to fourth and was followed across the finish by Run for the Hills and a flat Red Carpet Ready. Anywho was an early scratch.
Bred by Stonestreet, Zeitlos is by Curling out of Thyme for Roses, by Redoute’s Choice, and was bred by Stonestreet. She won for the eighth time in 16 starts, and like her trainer said, never has run better.
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