Pletcher's Success With First-Timers Continues

Monday, December 21, 2020

Bernies Blog

HALLANDALE BEACH - The parade of impressive Todd Pletcher-trained maiden special weight winners into Gulfstream Park’s winner’s circle continued Sunday following a sharp debut score by Shadwell Stable’s Zaajel.

The homebred daughter of Street Sense ($8.20) drew off to a 7 ¼-length victory in Race 7, a seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies.

“She’d been training forwardly," Pletcher said. "She was a half-step slow from the gate the other morning – she tossed her head a little at the break. We stood her a few times and she was good, so we went ahead and ran her today, thinking she was ready to go. Seven furlongs is a good starting point for her.”

Zaajel stalked the early pace set by Mail Order, a debuting son of Liam’s Map for trainer Bill Mott, before making a move on the turn to take the lead at the top of the stretch and drawing away to a comfortable win under Luis Saez.

“We’ll play it by ear," Pletcher said "She’s clearly a filly that wants more distance. That’s always exciting when you have one break their maiden at a shorter distance."

Zaajel ran seven furlongs in 1:23.81 to prevail over Pletcher-trained Unbridled d’Oro, the 2-1 favorite who closed from 10th to finish second under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Pletcher, who is seeking to capture his 17th Championship Meet title, has enjoyed other early-season success with debut winners, including WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.’s Prime Factor, a highly promising juvenile son of Quality Road who scored by 8 ¾ lengths on Dec. 12, and Shadwell’s Arham, a 3-year-old son of Union Rags who graduated by eight lengths on Wednesday. Pletcher also scored on Dec. 12 with Donegal Racing’s Donegal Bay, a juvenile son of Uncle Mo who graduated by 4 ¼ lengths.

WHO’S HOT: Tyler Gaffalione, who rode four winners on Saturday, came right back to win three races on Sunday. Gaffalione, who rode Sleepy Eyes Todd to victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector, scored aboard Nitro Time ($4.80) in Race 1, Comp’d ($25) in Race 4 and Digital Footprint ($5.90) in Race 6.

Luis Saez doubled, notching back-to-back victories aboard Zaajel ($8.20) in Race 7 and Omnia ($17.60) in Race 8. Edgard Zayas also rode a pair of winners, scoring aboard No Que No ($19) in Race 3 and Scar ($16.80) in Race 9.