Zazu denies Plum Pretty in Hollywood Oaks

ZAZU (Tapit) rallied from well-back to finish third in the May 6

Kentucky Oaks (G1) behind winner Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), and was

more than ready to turn the tables on that rival Saturday in the

$147,000

Hollywood Oaks (G2). The Jerry and Ann Moss colorbearer did just

that in the 8 1/2-furlong Cushion Track test, easily passing Plum Pretty

while racing on the rail to score by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Joel

Rosario.

The already diminutive field of five was cut even more when Big Tiz

(Tiznow) scratched. The four remaining runners broke well, with

Wallstreeter (Street Cry [Ire]) and Plum Pretty both heading straight

for the front. Martin Garcia refused to get in a speed duel with

Wallstreeter, instead settling Plum Pretty to stalk just to the outside

of that rival. Zazu began the race in the rear, but moved up to third on

the backstretch.

As Wallstreeter set fractions of :23 2/5, :47 and 1:12, Zazu was

slowly inching her way closer. Rosario kept her tucked down on the inside

and appeared to get blocked in by Wallstreeter in front and Plum Pretty

to his outside as they neared the turn. The crafty rider was just biding

his time, though, and as soon as a bit of daylight opened up on the rail

sent his gray mount through. The tight quarters almost got the best of

Zazu, as her rear-end bounced off the rail and into Wallstreeter to her

outside, throwing her off stride for a moment.

"She ran really well in the Kentucky Oaks, the winner just got a little

better trip," Sadler said. "It was a big field over there and she got kind of

jostled around on the first turn. She was on her home court and her home base

today, so that helps.

"It was just a beautiful ride by Joel. He cut the corner on the turn and

probably that was the difference. With a bigger field you might get more pace,

but with a smaller field there's probably less traffic. Those are the tradeoffs

you get. I left it up to Joel. I said you're going to have to make some choices.

Maybe you want to move on her a little bit earlier or maybe you want to sit

behind and try to swoop her. I said those are your calls, you've got to decide

what to do on tactics. He made all the right choices today.

"Don't know what's next. We go to a lot of turf races for fillies in Southern

California, so we'll have to talk about that.''

Zazu was sent off as the even-money second pick to Plum Pretty's 3-5

favoritism, returning $4.20 and $2.10 after show wagering was canceled. It was 4

1/4 lengths from Plum Pretty to Love Theway Youare (Arch), who picked up the

show. Wallstreeter trailed by another 8 1/4 lengths.

"I didn't mind letting the other horse (Wallstreeter) go because my horse was

nice and quiet and relaxed on the outside," Garcia described his ride aboard

Plum Pretty. "I never thought about trying to keep the winner down inside

because I saw that the rail was opening up. My filly fired OK, but she just got

a little tired."

"She ran well. She got beat by a nice filly," said Bob Baffert, trainer of

Plum Pretty. "I think (Martin Garcia) thought that (Zazu) was going to get

stopped on the rail. She just got a little tired at the end."