Eblouissante Entered in Paseana Stakes

Eblouissante, the six-year-old half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, has been entered to race on January 11th in the $75,000 Paseana Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Weekend Recap: Royal Delta was amazing

The summer racing season officially began last week with the opening of Saratoga and Del Mar, and -- as a result -- the racing has been simply spectacular.

By far the highlight for this writer was Royal Delta's romping victory in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) on Saturday. She was fully expected to win, being sent off at 2-5, but somehow managed to outrun her odds in winning by 10 3/4 lengths. It was the kind of dominance that you just don't see in grade I races. After taking the lead through a moderate opening quarter in :24.19, Royal Delta then blitzed the next half-mile in a spectacular :47.24 to open up a seven-length lead on the field. Really, after the opening three furlongs, the outcome was never in question. Without ever really being pushed by jockey Mike Smith, Royal Delta cruised home unchallenged to win in 2:02.04 seconds and establish herself as not only the leading older mare in the country, but also a leading contender for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) against males should her connections choose to send her that route.

Royal Delta's main east-coast challenger for leadership of the division appears to be Todd Pletcher's fine mare Authenticity, who added another stakes victory to her record with a solid triumph in the Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) at Saratoga. Favored at 1-2, Authenticity showed a new dimension in rating just off the early pace before finishing up well to win by a length over Iowa Distaff Handicap winner Flashy American. Her next start is expected to come in Saratoga's Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I), where she and Royal Delta will meet for the first time.

The big disappointment of the Shuvee was Eblouissante, a previously unbeaten half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta. Unfortunately, Eblouissante was anxious at the start and scraped herself up a bit, after which she failed to seriously contend and was eased to a last-place finish. The one consolation is that her performance was too bad to be a true measure of her ability, and I won't be surprised if her next start yields much, much better results.

The Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) for three-year-old fillies finally yielded a clear-cut leader of the division, as Princess of Sylmar unleashed an impressive rally around the final turn to seize command and win by six widening lengths. And let's not forget that her final time was well over a second faster than Authenticity ran in winning the Shuvee! Having completed the "Oaks" double, Princess of Sylmar is now expected to try her luck at ten furlongs in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I), where another victory would virtually sew up the Eclipse award as champion three-year-old filly.

The week's two-year-old racing was also interesting, with Sprouts continuing her domination of the West-coast division with her victory in the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes, Brazen Persuasion and Bahnah dead-heating for victory in the Schuylerville (gr. III), and Wired Bryan romping to an impressive win in the Sanford Stakes (gr. II). By default, they are the early leaders of the juvenile divisions, but it will be very interesting to see how they progress over the course of the year.

The highlight of the week at Del Mar was the grade I Eddie Read Stakes, in which Jeranimo -- somehow favored despite his recent sub-par performances -- unleashed a tremendous rally to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the spectacular time of 1:45 4/5! It's great to see him back in top form, and to be perfectly honest, that was the kind of performance that could make him a serious contender in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) this November.

The sprint division came into clearer focus on opening day at Saratoga when Sage Valley won the James Marvin Stakes in strong fashion. The victory made amends for his poor showing in the True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont last month and stamps him as the horse to beat in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) at the end of the meet. That said, to truly gain command of the sprint division, he's going to have to beat the likes of Fast Bullet, Gentleman's Code, and Delaunay at some point along the way.

Before we sign off, allow me to briefly mention the San Clemente Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar. The one-mile turf race for fillies and mares was won by Wishing Gate, who rallied from fifth to win impressively in 1:33.58 seconds. It's unfortunate that there isn't a "Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Mile," because I think Wishing Gate would be a solid favorite to win. Even still, she'd probably have a shot in the Breeders' Cup Mile itself, because her victory was simply that impressive.

-Keelerman

Authenticity rallies for victory in the Shuvee

Heavily favored Authenticity had to work hard for her victory in the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) this afternoon, but she did get the job done, rallying from just off the pace to win the nine-furlong race by a length.

With jockey John Velazquez aboard, Authenticity broke well but was soon taken back to settle in second as Sea Island led the way through very slow fractions of :25.46 and :50.80. Moon Philly and Flashy American were racing in third and fourth, followed closely by Eblouissante -- who got off to a very poor start after being very unruly in the starting gate -- and stretch-running Royal Lahaina.

Following three-quarters of a mile in 1:15.03, Authenticity moved up to challenge Sea Island for the lead, gaining the advantage just prior to the eighth pole. Then Flashy American made a bold rally along the rail to reach contention, but Authenticity found enough left in the tank to hold her off for a one-length victory in 1:52.33 seconds.

Sea Island held well to finish third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Flashy American and 2 1/2 lengths clear of Moon Philly. Royal Lahaina and Eblouissante completed the order of finish, both being virtually eased after failing to commence their rallies on the far turn.

The winner is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Padua Stables. A daughter of Quiet American out of the Deputy Minister mare Court Appeal, Authenticity has now compiled a record of 4-3-1 from nine starts, with earnings of $513,362.

-Keelerman

Eblouissante to make stakes debut in Shuvee Handicap

Eblouissante, the unbeaten four-year-old half-sister to Zenyatta, is scheduled to make her long-awaited stakes debut in Saturday's $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) at Saratoga.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Bernardini began her career with an eye-catching maiden victory on November 16th, in which she rallied from next-to-last to win the 1 1/16th miles maiden special weight by 4 1/4 lengths. She followed up on that triumph with an equally impressive allowance win on January 17th, once again winning from off-the-pace in a fashion eerily similar to that of Zenyatta. Unfortunately, various minor issues have kept her from the races since then, but her strong recent workouts suggest that she is back in top form and ready to win her first stakes race.

Six other fillies and mares are entered in the Shuvee, with Eblouissante's primary opposition expected to come from Summer Applause, winner of the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (gr. III), and Authenticity, winner of the La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) and runner-up in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I). However, both fillies have been cross-entered in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) at Delaware Park, which is also on Saturday.

Assuming that both Summer Applause and Authenticity scratch from the Shuvee in favor of the Del Cap, Sea Island would loom as the most logical candidate to upset Eblouissante. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the daughter of Pulpit was generally disappointing last summer while losing four stakes events at Saratoga and Belmont, but did come around to finish second in the Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct. She began her 2013 campaign with a runner-up effort in an allowance race at Keeneland, then shipped to Pimlico and was beaten two lengths when second to Summer Applause in the Allaire DuPont. However, her most recent effort was a puzzler. Sent off as the second-choice in Belmont's Mariensky Stakes, she apparently didn't handle the sloppy track and wound up last in a field of six, never challenging while trailing by about eleven lengths at the finish. It's difficult to say with certainty whether she'll rebound -- consistency isn't something she's known for! -- but if she does, she could make things very interesting for Eblouissante.

Another intriguing contender is Moon Philly, who won the Nellie Morse Stakes and Maryland Racing Media Stakes at Laurel Park early in the year. Owned by Country Life Farm, Moon Philly's recent form has not been great -- she was fifth in the Allaire DuPont after a tough trip and was beaten nearly eighteen lengths in Monmouth's Lighthouse Stakes -- but if she runs back to her Maryland form, I think she could win this race as a bit of a longshot.

Rounding out the field are Flashy American, impressive winner of the Iowa Distaff Stakes last month, and Royal Lahaina, who beat Sea Island when winning the Mariensky Stakes. If you excuse the latter's dismal defeat in the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne, her form this year has been very good, and a top three finish is definitely within the realm of her abilities, especially if Summer Applause and Authenticity scratch.

In conclusion, there are a number of very talented fillies in this race, and a victory for Eblouissante not a given. But as a huge fan of Zenyatta, I have to pick her to win.

-Keelerman

Eblouissante wins allowance race, remains unbeaten

Eblouissante, a half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, kept her unbeaten record intact when she rallied for a convincing victory in a 1 1/16th allowance optional claiming race on January 17th at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Eblouissante was racing for the first time since winning her debut by 4 1/4 lengths on November 16th. Sent off as the 3-2 favorite under jockey Corey Nakatani, Eblouissante was off to a mildly slow start, and soon found herself racing in last place as longshot Folk Dancer led the way through fractions of :24.52 and :48.11. Pink Blossom was tracking the pace in second, followed by Viva Carina, Double Ante, and Eblouissante.

Rounding the final turn, Nakatani asked Eblouissante for run, and the four-year-old filly responded with an eye-catching burst of speed that carried her past everyone but Pink Blossom by the time she reached the homestretch. In a manner reminiscent of Zenyatta herself, Eblouissante seemed to idle upon striking the front, but she soon responded to Nakatani's continued urging and drew off late to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

The final time was 1:44.89 seconds. Pink Blossom stayed on gamely to finish second, followed by Folk Dancer, Double Ante, and Viva Carina.

Eblouissante is a daughter of Bernardini out of Vertigineux, by Kris S. Owned by Eric Kronfeld, Eblouissante's next start is expected to come in a stakes, with the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes (gr. II) on February 16th and the $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (gr. I) on March 16th being possible options.

-Keelerman

Eblouissante entered to race on 1-17-13

Eblouissante, a half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, is scheduled to make the second start of her career in a 1 1/16th miles allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park on January 17th.

The daughter of Bernardini out of Vertigineux broke her maiden in spectacular fashion on November 16th at Betfair Hollywood Park, but was subsequently scratched from an allowance race on December 15th after banging her hip in the receiving barn prior to the race.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Eblouissante is expected to be heavily favored in Thursday's race, where she will face just four rivals. Her primary opposition is expected to come from Viva Carina, who placed second in the Torrey Pine Stakes and fourth in the Autumn Miss Stakes (gr. III) last year.

Corey Nakatani will ride Eblouissante.

Post Positions:
1 Double Ante
2 Viva Carina
3 Folk Dancer
4 Pink Blossom
5 Eblouissante

-Keelerman

Eblouissante breezes five-eighths; nearing next start

Eblouissante, the renowned half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, breezed five-eighths of a mile at Betfair Hollywood Park this morning and appears to be nearing her next start.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Bernardini out of Vertigineux clocked the distance in 1:00.80 seconds, the sixth-fastest of thirty-three morning works at that distance.

Her next start is expected to come in either the $150,000 La Canada Stakes (gr. II) on January 20th or an allowance race around that time.

-Keelerman

Eblouissante breezes six furlongs

Eblouissante, a half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, breezed six furlongs this morning at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Bernardini - Vertigineux, by Kris S. traversed the distance in 1:13.20. It was the third-fastest work of the morning at that distance.

She is targeting an as-of-yet undetermined race sometime this month, with the La Canada Stakes (gr. II) on January 20th being one option.

-Keelerman

Eblouissante works easy half-mile

Eblouissante, the well-regarded half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, breezed an easy half-mile at Betfair Hollywood Park this morning, getting the distance in :53.40.

The work was the slowest of the morning at that distance, but with her next race still a couple of weeks away, that was expected. Trained by John Shirreffs, Eblouissante is pointing toward an undetermined race at Santa Anita in January, with an allowance race or the La Canada Stakes (gr. II) under consideration.

Eblouissante broke her maiden by 4 1/4 lengths on November 16th before being scratched from an allowance race one month later.

-Keelerman

Eblouissante returns to work tab

Earlier this morning at Betfair Hollywood Park, Eblouissante -- a three-year-old half sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta -- turned in her first workout since being scratched from an allowance race on December 16th.

Her breeze was five furlongs in distance, and she recorded an impressive time of 1:00 minute flat. It was the sixth fastest work of the morning at that distance.

The daughter of Bernardini had broken her maiden in impressive fashion on November 16th and was expected to be heavily favored in the December allowance race. However, after banging her hip in the receiving barn prior to the race, her connections chose to scratch from the race and regroup.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Eblouissante is expected to make the second start of her career during the first month of the Santa Anita meet, which begins December 26th. One possible goal is the $500,000 La Canada Stakes (gr. II), a 1 1/16th miles race scheduled to be run on January 20th.

-Keelerman

Eblouissante scatches from Saturday allowance race

Eblouissante, a three-year-old half sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, was scratched from a 1 1/16th miles allowance race at Betfair Hollywood Park after banging her hip about thirty minutes prior to the race.

The incident occurred in the holding barn when she struck a stall door and scraped herself a bit. Fortunately, the injury was described as minor by trainer John Shirreffs.

Eblouissante broke her maiden in impressive fashion earlier during the Hollywood meet and was expected to be heavily favored in today's race.

Additional details can be found on DRF.com: http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-park-eblouissante-scratched-second-start

-Keelerman

Eblouissante entered to race on 12/15/12 at Betfair Hollywood Park

Eblouissante, a half-sister to the 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, is scheduled to make the second start of her career in Saturday's fourth race at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Trained by John Shirreffs and owned by E. N. Kronfield, Eblouissante broke her maiden in impressive fashion here at Hollywood on November 16th, rallying from next-to-last to win a 1 1/16th miles maiden special weight by over four lengths. A three-year-old daughter of Bernardini out of Vertigineux, Eblouissante is expected to be favored on Saturday and will be ridden by Corey Nakatani, who rode her in her debut.

Only four other fillies and mares have entered the 1 1/16th miles allowance optional claiming race, the best of which appears to be Toomanytomatoes, who won a one-mile allowance optional claiming race on the turf here at Hollywood on November 11th. Glowing Spirit, a stakes-placed Brazilian-bred filly, could also contend. Longshots The Only Key and Include the Cat complete the lineup.

Post Positions:
PP/Horse/Jockey/Trainer
1 Glowing Spirit/Edwin Maldonado/A. C. Avila
2 The Only Key/Victor Espinoza/Dean Greenman
3 Eblouissante/Corey Nakatani/John Shirreffs
4 Include the Cat/Garrett Gomez/Julio Canani
5 Toomanytomatoes/Rafael Bejarano/Dean Pederson

-Keelerman

Eblouissante breezes five furlongs at Hollywood Park

Eblouissante, a half-sister to the 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, breezed five furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park on the morning of December 9th and appears to be ready for the second start of her career.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the three-year-old daughter of Bernardini - Vertigineux, by Kris S. clocked the distance in 1:00.60, the eighth-fastest of forty-two such morning works. She is expected to contest an allowance race sometime during remainder of the Hollywood Park meet, which concludes on December 16th.

She broke her maiden in impressive fashion here at Hollywood on November 16th, rallying from next-to-last to win a 1 1/16th miles maiden special weight by over four lengths.

-Keelerman

Eblouissante, Zenyatta's half-sister, breezes four furlongs on Dec. 2nd

Eblouissante, a three-year-old half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, returned to the work tab for the first time since breaking her maiden when she breezed a half-mile in :52.40 on December 2nd.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Bernardini out of Vertigineux by Kris S. made headlines on November 16th when she rocketed to victory in a 1 1/16th miles maiden special weight at Betfair Hollywood Park. Next-to-last during the early stages of the race, she circled the field on the far outside in a fashion eerily similar to her famous sister, eventually drawing away to win the race by 4 1/4 lengths.

Her breeze was ranked forty-fifth out of the forty-seven works of the morning at that distance. She is expected to race once more during the Hollywood Park meet, which concludes on December 16th.

-Keelerman

Zenyatta's half-sister, Eblouissante, wins debut

Could she be the second coming of Zenyatta? Emulating her half-sister's nearly perfect career will not be easy, but the three-year-old filly Eblouissante showed a great deal of promise in romping to victory in a 1 1/16th miles allowance race on Friday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Ridden to victory by Corey Nakatani, Eblouissante was off just a touch slowly, and thus found herself racing in seventh place early on, about five lengths behind the front-running Saturday Nite Ride, who was setting a moderate pace of :23.87 and :48.07. Urania, Belonging, and Chestnut Moon were racing close to the pace, followed by Out for Revenge, Playful Humor, Eblouissante, and Spin the Blues.

Rounding the far turn, Nakatani guided Eblouissante to the outside, and the filly responded with terrific acceleration that carried her past the majority of the field. With her white shadow roll bobbing up and down, it looked like Zenyatta all over again.

In the homestretch, Saturday Nite Live put up a decent fight and maintained the lead past the eighth pole, but Eblouissante proved much too good, drawing off with powerful strides to win by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:45.27 seconds.

Chestnut Moon rallied late to edge Saturday Nite Live for second, while Belonging, Spin the Blues, Urania, Playful Humor, and Out for Revenge completed the order of finish.

The winner is owned by Eric Kronfield and trained by John Shirreffs.

-Keelerman