NEWS
Zagora gets perfect stalking trip to win Endeavour Stakes
Posted: Saturday, February 04, 2012 7:23 PM
ZAGORA WINS ENDEAVOUR STAKES
Tom Cooley Photography
For video of the Endeavour Stakes, click here.
by Myra Lewyn
Martin Schwartz’s Grade 1 winner Zagora (Fr) enjoyed an ideal stalking trip to win the $150,000 Endeavour Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, marking her second U.S. victory.
Racing for the first time in 4½ months, the chestnut mare stalked from third for six furlongs, dispatched pacesetter Exclusive Love in early stretch, and drew off to a 2¼-length win as the 9-to-10 favorite in the eight-horse field.
Zagora covered 1 1/16 miles under Javier Castellano in 1:40.92 on turf rated as firm.
A two-time Group 3 winner in her native France, Zagora captured the Diana Stakes (G1) under Castellano last July at Saratoga Race Course after finishing second or third in her first four U.S. starts, all in graded stakes. She launched her U.S. career with a runner-up finish in the 2010 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Race Course and made her 2011 debut at Tampa Bay Downs last March with a second-place finish in the Hillsborough Stakes (G3). Her connections decided to return her to the familiar Oldsmar, Florida, track for her 2012 debut.
In her final start last year, Zagora was jostled at the start of the Canadian Stakes (Can-G2) in September at Woodbine and had no closing kick in a seventh-place finish with Castellano aboard. She was unstoppable on Saturday when Castellano moved her off the rail leaving the second turn and drove her past Exclusive Love in the final furlong.
“It’s the first time I’ve been up on her since last year, but it was like getting back with an old friend,” Castellano said after the Endeavour Stakes. “We really had a perfect trip, I got her to the inside and she relaxed. When I asked her getting near the stretch, I asked her and she put in a strong run and that was that.”
Exclusive Love outfinished 2-to-1 second wagering choice Keertana, making her first start since winning the Louisville Handicap (G3) last May, by 1¼ lengths for second.
Zagora, who is trained by Chad Brown, was produced by the unraced Mtoto mare Zaneton. Her sire, Green Tune, died at age 20 last January after fracturing a leg at Haras d’Etreham, where he stood since beginning his stud career in 1996.
Zagora has posted six wins, four seconds, and two thirds from 15 career starts. The $90,000 winner’s share of the Endeavour purse boosted her lifetime bankroll to $769,589.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
