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Cocoa Beach along in time in Matriarch

Cocoa Beach has never been unplaced in 12 career starts, on three types of surfaces, on three continents (Benoit Photo) When Sunday was billed as Zenyatta Day at Hollywood Park, one would have thought that honor encompassed just the parading of the presumptive champion, her visit to the winner's circle with her connections, and the free commemorative poster given out to fans. But her sphere of influence extended further than that, for Godolphin Racing's COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court), last seen finishing second to Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1), paid her a handsome compliment by capturing Sunday's $500,000 Matriarch S. (G1) on the turf. Under a well-timed ride by Ramon Dominguez, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee collared defending champion Precious Kitten (Catienus) late and drove three-quarters of a length clear at the wire. Cocoa Beach, who had not raced on the grass since her debut score in Chile, was nevertheless sent off as the 9-5 favorite. The dark bay traveled conspicuously well in an outside stalking spot early, not far off the slow pace doled out by Precious Kitten through fractions of :25 3/5, :49 and 1:12. The front runner felt only mild pressure from Rosinka (Ire) (Soviet Star) and Roshani (Fantastic Light), and as she spurted away at the top of the stretch, Precious Kitten looked ready to hand trainer Bobby Frankel his fifth straight Matriarch.

Meanwhile, Dominguez gave Cocoa Beach the green light, and she lengthened stride beautifully inside the final furlong. The ever-game Precious Kitten gave her utmost in her swan song, but she could not contain the late surge of Cocoa Beach. The decisive winner completed the firm-turf mile in 1:35 2/5 and returned $5.80, $3.20 and $2.20.

Precious Kitten held second by a half-length from her fast-finishing stablemate Visit (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]), paying $3.20 and $2.40 as the 2-1 second choice. Visit, the third choice at nearly 7-2, did well to close ground from near the back of the pack and provided $2.60 to show. The $1 exotics totaled $9.40 (exacta), $22.40 (trifecta) and $199.50 (9-3-7-2 superfecta) with Magical Fantasy (Diesis [GB]) in fourth. Criminologist (Maria's Mon) checked in fifth in her career finale, followed by I Can See (Flying Chevron), Rosinka and Roshani. Black Mamba (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) was scratched.

Cocoa Beach has already traversed the world during her 12-race career, and she has now proven herself at the highest level on dirt, turf and synthetic. Bred in Chile by Haras La Obra, the filly captured her first four starts in her native land, including three Group 3s, by easy margins last year. Purchased by Godolphin, Cocoa Beach next found herself running in Dubai at the beginning of 2008. She suffered her first loss when second in an allowance at Nad al Sheba on January 17, but immediately stepped back up to score in the U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas and U.A.E. Oaks.

Cocoa Beach took on the boys in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2), running third, and wasn't seen again until making her U.S. debut on August 29 at Saratoga. She easily passed that test when posting a five-length victory in the Love Sign S. Next time out, she upended Eclipse Award winner Ginger Punch in the Beldame S. (G1) in the Belmont Park slop before chasing Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup. Cocoa Beach has now earned $1,650,831 from her 12-9-2-1 career mark.

The winner is out of the Edgy Diplomat mare Visionera, who is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Poseida (Chi) (Pick Up [Chi]). She is from the same family as Chilean champion Campo Marzio (Chi) (Roy).

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