In the race named after America's sweetheart, it was Sugar Fish (Accelerate–Madiera Park, by Langfuhr) who saved her best stride for the stretch and took home her second piece of graded Arcadian hardware in the GII Zenyatta Stakes.
A modest auction buy with modest beginnings, the former $40,000 maiden claimer has risen through the ranks on a noticeably sharp incline, having sailed through her conditions since breaking her maiden Mar. 29 by 10 lengths, and finally finding herself the 9 3/4-length GII Summertime Oaks victress by June 8. Stepping up into Grade I company for the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Aug. 3, she could do no better than sixth as some familiar faces passed her in the stretch.
In no hurry from the rear of the field as the 5-2 third choice here, she watched Alpha Bella (Justify) take control into the first turn and set :23.65, :48.25, and 1:12.42 early fractions. On hold up the backstretch, Sugar Fish had plenty left in reserve and as the pacesetter tried to give them the slip, the eventual winner responded around the far turn with a bid of her own. With the rail open down the lane, she rallied up the inside and powered home under Tyler Baze for the win. That frontrunner held on to second as Desert Dawn (Cupid) rolled along for third.
“What is amazing to me is good horses are generally a little older. This filly as a 3-year-old and is really hitting the big level now, so I'm so excited about it,” said Kim Lloyd of Sweetwater Stable, part owners of Sugar Fish.
“She loves this place. She didn't enjoy Del Mar, there's nothing wrong with Del Mar, but for her she wasn't that happy there. She loves it here, so she is on her game, and she wants to run. No matter where she is, if you are a little relaxed around that first turn and around the backside, when it is time to kick in at the three and a half pole, she is ready to go.”
Lloyd added regarding a start on the first weekend in November, “I would love to run in a Breeders' Cup, Del Mar is my favorite track. But the horse has to make that decision.”
#6 SUGAR FISH ($7.20) burst through on the rail to score in the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) under @tyler_baze 🏆. The daughter of Accelerate is trained by @Jmullinsracing. pic.twitter.com/GNFvh3IgQq
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 29, 2024
Pedigree Note:
A half-sister to SP Hartel (City Zip), Sugar Fish is the most accomplished runner for her dam, who herself hails from a very succesful family of racers and runner producers. Dam Madeira Park was a graded winner, and a full-sister to MSW & GSP-Can Langara Lass, who went on to garner further accolades as the dam of GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin at Lee (Lookin At Lucky). That mare also produced MGSW Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen), and his fulls-sister SW & GISP Battlefield Angel, who herself produced GSW Manny Wah, earner of just north of $1-million in prize money.
Since this winner, Madeira Park has produced 2-year-old Mitole Park (Mitole) as well as a 2024 filly by Jack Christopher. She went to Mage for 2025.
Sunday, Santa Anita
ZENYATTA S.-GII, $200,000, Santa Anita, 9-29, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.53, ft.
1–SUGAR FISH, 122, f, 3, by Accelerate
1st Dam: Madeira Park (GSW, $318,992), by Langfuhr
2nd Dam: Capilano, by Demons Begone
3rd Dam: Bella Isabella, by Conquistador Cielo
($40,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Sweetwater Stable & Talla Racing LLC; B-George Gilbert (KY); T-Jeff Mullins; J-Tyler Baze. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 8-4-1-0, $310,040. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Alpha Bella, 124, f, 4, Justify–Andina (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire). O-Don Alberto Stable; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-John Sadler. $40,000.
3–Desert Dawn, 124, m, 5, Cupid–Ashley's Glory, by Honour and Glory. ($32,000 RNA Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O/B-H & E Ranch (AZ); T-Philip D'Amato. $24,000.
Margins: 1HF, 9, 3 3/4. Odds: 2.60, 3.70, 2.30.
Also Ran: Nothing Like You, Che Evasora (Arg). Scratched: Flying Connection. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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