Undefeated Cavalieri leads Baffert sweep of Zenyatta S. (G2)

Cavalieri got her fifth win in as many starts in Sunday’s Zenyatta S. (G2) at Santa Anita Park, besting stablemate Richi (CHI) by 1 ¾-lengths, with another Bob Baffert-trainee, Howin, taking the third spot.

As part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ series, the Zenyatta victory earned Cavalieri an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) in a month at Del Mar.

Cavalieri leapt into the air when the gates opened leaving her at the back of the field. By the time they hit the backstretch, though, Cavalieri had moved up to second, with Richi setting the pace. They ran 1-2 the rest of the way, with Richi leading until upper stretch, when Cavalieri took over. The winner edged clear in the final furlong to finish in 1:42.64.

“When she missed the break I thought, ‘Well, oh well’,” said Baffert of the filly’s tardy beginning. “But we knew that she is very talented. He got her up there. Juan [Hernandez], he didn’t panic. He was patient with her and got her in a nice spot down the backside. When I saw the fillies going down (the stretch) together I knew they were going to have to sprint home. They went easy the first half, so I think that helped a lot.”

Cavalieri, who won the Beholder Mile (G1) and La Canada S. (G3) earlier this year, has now earned $438,000 for Speedway Stables LLC.