|
|
Zaftig rallies for strong Nassau County score Capitalizing on an early duel between odds-on favorite Carolyn's Cat (Forestry) and 4-1 second choice Irish Smoke (Smoke Glacken), ZAFTIG (Gone West) swept to the front with a furlong to go and extended her lead to 5 1/4 lengths at the wire in Saturday's $208,400 Nassau County S. (G3) at Belmont Park. Under Jorge Chavez, the three-year-old filly completed seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:22 3/5. Zaftig, the third choice at nearly 5-1, returned $11.60, $4.80 and $4.70 to her backers while keying the $30.60 exacta and $159.50 trifecta (5-7-6). Carolyn's Cat, who was a head behind Irish Smoke through an opening quarter-mile of :22 2/5, assumed a slight lead after a half-mile in :45, but had little left in the stretch to contain the winner. She did, however, finish 4 1/4 lengths clear of J Z Warrior (Harlan's Holiday) for second, returning $3.10 and $2.50. J Z Warrior paid $5.30 and was followed under the line by Ready for Fortune (More Than Ready), Dagger (Tactical Cat), Irish Smoke and Paint Me Red (Red Bullet). "I knew the favorite was the only speed," Chavez said. "I was hoping someone would go with her, and that's what happened. She kicked in really well at the end." The Nassau County was just the fourth career start for Zaftig, who is owned by Susan Moore and M and M Thoroughbred Partners. Zaftig ran fifth in her Aqueduct debut last October, then returned to break her maiden by nearly nine lengths at Gulfstream Park on February 23. Zaftig made her stakes debut in the April 12 Comely S. (G2) at Aqueduct, but failed to rally after racing wide and finished fourth in a field of five. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said he would consider the June 7 Acorn S. (G1) for Zaftig's next start. Zaftig now boasts a record of 4-2-0-0 with earnings of $158,700. Bred in Kentucky by Top Notch Farms, Zaftig is out of the Canadian Grade 1 winner Zoftig (Cozzene), who also ran second in the 2000 Ashland S. (G1). She has also produced the unraced two-year-old colt Rotterdam (Unbridled's Song) and has an unnamed yearling filly by Distorted Humor.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
