Zavata makes his mark as first runner scores

Multiple Grade 2 hero ZAVATA (Phone Trick) registered his first runner and

winner as a sire on Sunday when his juvenile colt Almendrado scored in the 3RD

race at Manor Downs. The Florida-bred bay took the lead early and drove to a

three-quarters of a length victory in a trial for the Manor Downs Thoroughbred

Futurity. Owned by Markpoint Stable and trained by Cheryl Asmussen, Almendrado

clocked :53 4/5 for 4 1/2 furlongs on the sloppy track while hand ridden by Tony

McNeil.

Zavata was a precocious two-year-old himself in 2002, debuting in the May 4

Three Chimneys Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs and finishing a terrific second.

After coasting home by 5 1/2 lengths in a maiden special weight event at Belmont

Park, the Patrick Biancone pupil romped by 6 1/4 lengths in the Tremont S. (G3)

and by 7 1/4 lengths in the Saratoga Special S. (G2). As a three-year-old,

Zavata's finest hour came at Saratoga, where he rolled to a 5 1/4-length tally

in the Amsterdam S. (G2) while reeling off six furlongs in 1:08 3/5. The bay

retired with a mark of 13-5-1-1 and $346,533 in earnings.

Out of the winning Pert Lady (Cox's Ridge), Zavata hails from the family of

multiple Grade 1 victor and sire Dixie Union (Dixieland Band). The

seven-year-old stallion stands at Walmac Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, for a

$7,500 fee.