Breeders Cup Ladies Classic Eligibles
Ginger Punch and Zenyatta May Take on Music Note in Renamed Distaff
Oct 18, 2008
Talented older fillies Ginger Punch, last year's Eclipse Award Champion Older Female, and unbeaten Zenyatta, and impressive three-year-old Music Note are the most noted "Win and You're In" eligibles for this season's climatic Breeders' Cup World Championships scheduled for October 24 and 25 at Santa Anita Park's newly surfaced facility in Arcadia, California.
Zenyatta Has Done Pro-Ride
Zenyatta routed Hystericalady in the September 27 Lady's Secret Stakes to keep her career record unblemished. More importantly, she did it on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface, where the BC Ladies Classic will be held October 24.
Eligibles Pedigrees and Credentials
There are some sterling race records among the Ladies Classic eligibles.
Zenyatta/Street Cry--Vertigineux, by Kris S. -- Zenyatta's race record is flawless, as in she's never lost.
Bear Now/Tiznow -- Controlled, by In Excess -- Bear Now has winning genes, as her daddy is the only Breeders' Cup Classic back-to-back years victor. She beat champion Octave last season, but she is inexperienced against older mares.
Cocoa Beach (Chile)/Doneraile -- Visionera, by Edgy Diplomat -- Cocoa Beach is a three-continent stakes winner. Her daddy is a son of the great Seattle Slew. She has raced only on dirt.
GInger Punch/Awesome Again -- Nappelon, by Bold Revenue -- Ginger Punch is a proven champion and an experienced Breeders' Cup runner.
Little Belle/A.P. Indy -- Dubai Belle, by Mr. Prospector -- Little Belle has just two third place finishes in her last three races after starting 2008 with a second, followed by three consecutive wins. Her sire is the most successful son of Seattle Slew.
Music Note/A.P. Indy -- Note Musicale (GB), by Sadler's Wells -- Music Note is doubly blessed with genes, as A.P. Indy and Sadler's Wells are two of the best bloodline providers in Thoroughbred circles. Her racing experience, however, includes only dirt surfaces.
Seattle Smooth/Quiet American -- Our Seattle Star, by Seattle Song -- Seatlle Smooth is another well-bred youngster in this Ladies Classic mix. In addition, she took the measure of Proud Spell in her September start in the Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes at Philadelphia Park.
Spring Waltz/Silver Charm -- Relaxing Rhythm, by Easy Goer -- Spring Waltz's pedigree stacks up with her potential competitors. Silver Charm missed winning a Triple Crown in 1997, but left Dubai a World Cup victor in 1998. A winner of four races from five starts this season, Spring Waltz has been based at Belmont Park, where her works are normally among the best.
Unbridled Belle/Broken Vow -- Little Bold Belle, by Silver Buck -- Unbridled Belle's win in the Beldame Stakes last season boosted her to stardom after her second place effort in the Personal Ensign Stakes. In those two contests in 2008, she went third.
The Ladies Classic may come to a showdown between Zenyatta and Ginger Punch, but then again, when the ladies get together, anything can happen.
