Zee Bros runs rivals off their feet in Chick Lang
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There's speed, and then there's California speed. Zayat Stables' Zee Bros utilized the latter to run away from eight rivals Saturday in the $100,000 Lang at Pimlico, a six-furlong heat for three-year-olds. Under Martin Garcia, Zee Bros held a half-length lead through an opening quarter in :22 3/5, nad then extended that margin to two lengths through a half in :45. Although he opened up by as much as 4 1/2 lengths at the furlong pole, Zee Bros was geared down late and crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths to the good of Bobcat Jim, with Brave Dave a neck farther back in third. The final time over a fast track was 1:10 3/5. "We've always been really high on this horse," winning trainer Bob Baffert said. |
The 5-2 second choice, Zee Bros returned $7.40, $5 and $4.20.
The order of finish was completed by City of Weston, Undrafted, Res Judicata,
Perilous Indian, Clawback and Tour Guide.
Runner-up in his Santa Anita debut on February 9, Zee Bros rebounded to
impressively take a seven-furlong maiden over the same track the following
month. Last time, the Brother Derek colt set a fast pace in the April 27 Derby
Trial, but weakened to sixth in the final furlong of that one-mile test. His
career earnings now stand at $106,814.
"His Derby Trial, he went real fast, the track was off and tiring," Baffert
said. "He got a lot out of it and we expected him to run a big race today."
Bred in Kentucky by Eico Stable, Zee Bros was a $270,000 OBS April juvenile
purchase. He was produced by the Montbrook mare Nyanza, a half-sister to
multiple stakes-winning produceer Sweet Nanette. Zee Bros' third dam was Grade 3
winner Sweet Saree.
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Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Joel Rosario made it a clean sweep of the three-year-old grass stakes at Pimlico when Redwood Kitten led gate-to-wire in the $100,000 Murphy over 1 1/16 miles. Less than 24 hours after guiding Emotional Kitten to a win in the Hilltop for fillies, Rosario put Redwood Kitten, a gelded son of Kitten's Joy, on the lead and set comfortable fractions of :24 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:11. In the stretch, the chestnut turned back the challenge of Shining Copper to prevail by a length in a time of 1:35 on firm ground. The 2-1 second choice, Redwood Kitten paid $6.80, $3.80 and $3. "I liked how the race unfolded. He got away with an easy first quarter and then it was just a sprint home," Ward said. "This horse is a lot better with a little bit more spacing between his races. That's why we didn't run two weeks ago at Churchill in the American Turf. He has really blossomed in the last couple weeks." |
The run into the clubhouse turn was marred when Yougotthatgoinforu, a 44-1
longshot, proved difficult for jockey Emilio Flores to restrain, clipped heels
with a rival and unseated Flores. Yougotthatgoinforu impeded Wry Me in the
process, and the latter was later pulled up. Also failing to finish was Red
Wings, who bobbled entering the first turn and was pulled up.
Shining Copper finished second, three lengths clear of 2-1 favorite
Notacatbutallama. English Minister, China Holiday, Heat Press and Honour the Vow
were the last to cross the finish line. Special Skills was withdrawn.
Redwood Kitten placed in two of his first four starts, and then broke his
maiden for a $65,000 claiming tag at Gulfstream Park in December. Third in a
$100,000 stakes named for his sire on January 20, Redwood Kitten came back to
finish second to future Grade 3 winner Black Onyx in an allowance, and was most
recently third in the Transylvania at Keeneland. His record now stands at
9-2-2-3, $122,800.
A homebred foaled in Illinois, Redwood Kitten is a full brother to multiple
stakes winner Artemus Kitten and the stakes-winning Lisa's Kitten. All were
produced by the Woodman mare Chianti Red.
This extended family is responsible for French champion and noted sire
Caerleon, and Grade 1 winners Scan and Vision. Redwood Kitten's fifth dam was
Regal Gleam, the champion juvenile filly of 1966.
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In the $75,000 Rollicking, a five-furlong dash for two-year-olds, Silvertonguedtommy outran and easily put away the heavy 2-5 favorite, the filly Sweet Emma Rose, but had nothing left for the final furlong as Debt Ceiling swooped late to capture the race in hand under Eric Camacho. At one point nine lengths behind Silvertonguedtommy, who drilled the opening fractions in :21 4/5 and :46 1/5, Debt Ceiling received the perfect setup and came home a 2 1/2-length winner in a time of 1:00 1/5. The 5-1 third choice returned $12.20, $4.40 and $4.60. Silvertonguedtommy held second by three parts of a length over New Zone, who finished a neck ahead of Sweet Emma Rose. Take Time to Pray and John Bailey completed the order of finish after Knit One Purr Too and No Nay Never were scratched. |
Owned by Tim O'Donohue and trained by John Robb, Debt Ceiling is now
undefeated
in two starts with earnings of $66,660. The son of Discreet Cat was also an
impressive 4 1/2-length winner of his debut at Laurel on March 30 going 4 1/2
furlongs.
"We'll go back to Laurel after this. We were just pointing to this race.
There aren't a lot of spots for him right now," Robb said. "His first race, he
was not really ready and we didn't expect him to run as well as he did. But he
was ready for this one."
Bred in Kentucky by Brandywine Farm, Debt Ceiling was a $27,000 Keeneland
September yearling. He was produced by the stakes-winning Top Marks, a daughter
of Marquetry, and is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Dean's List. This
family has yielded Grade 1 winner West Coast Scout and Grade 2 victor Mountain
Cat.
"I picked him out at Keeneland and I really liked his eye," O'Donohue said.
"It was like the eye of a tiger and he was very professional. He was the total
package and his family -- the runners are very precocious."
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