With a racing move as ageless as the racetrack itself, it was Zeitlos (Curlin–Thyme For Roses {Aus}, by Redoute's Choice {Aus}) who made a timeless move to the rail and got up for the win in the GII Thoroughbred Club of American Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday afternoon. The score meant that the 4-year-old not only earned her first graded stakes victory, but she took home a prized ticket to enter the starting gate in the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar next month.
Bred by Stonestreet, the chestnut's career began rather inauspiciously when she ducked in and lost rider Manny Franco in her juvenile debut at Churchill Downs that August. However, Zeitlos proceeded to be a mark of consistency by either winning or hitting the board over the course of nine races–the last being a win in her first black-type start in the Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn in late February. Her latest form cycle has included her lone graded start when the filly finished fifth in the GIII Caress Stakes at Saratoga July 25 and then she won the Open Mind Stakes under the TwinSpires Sept. 14.
As a 7-2 shot here, Zeitlos was last up the backstretch as stablemate Clearly Unhinged (Into Mischief) was busy fending off early challenges from favorite Brightwork (Outwork) and Spirit Wind (Bahamian Squall). Sticking close to the fence and with a full tank around the far turn, the filly began to make up ground and entering the lane the rail opened up wide for her. Past the eighth pole, the chestnut accelerated, and took advantage of the tiring Clearly Unhinged and Spirit Wind who were trying to summon the strength to rally. Zeitlos got the jump on them and cruised home to scoop up the prizes. Spirit Wind held on as the runner-up and Brightwork finished third.
“It was remarkable,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “I was hesitant to wheel her back off a big race the other day so quick [after winning the listed Open Mind Stakes at Churchill Downs Sept. 14]. She was beaten here in a maiden race [finishing second April 15, 2023, in her third start]. Keeneland can be unique to itself, but she ran as good as she ever has, and what a great day to do it.”
Pedigree Notes:
Zeitlos translates to “timeless or ageless” in German, and that certainly describes her impressive Stonestreet sire (by Smart Strike) whose graded winners now clock in at 62. The Australian-bred Thyme For Roses was acquired by the farm for A$800,000 at the 2017 Australian Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. The winner's dam is responsible for 3-year-old filly Ms McWhinney (American Pharoah), who has a pair of wins to her credit this year, and claims unraced juvenile colt Natural Rights (Constitution). Her last registered foal is a current yearling filly by Speightstown.
Saturday, Keeneland
THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA S.-GII, $340,125, Keeneland, 10-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:09.52, ft.
1–ZEITLOS, 120, f, 4, by Curlin
1st Dam: Thyme For Roses (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $104,310), by Redoute's Choice (Aus)
2nd Dam: Augusta Proud (Aus), by More Than Ready
3rd Dam: Kadasha (Aus), by Langfuhr
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($350,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC and Peter Leidel; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Jose Ortiz. $214,288. Lifetime Record: 16-8-4-1, $1,031,305. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Spirit Wind, 122, m, 5, Bahamian Squall–Sacred Psalm, by Awesome of Course. O-Miller Racing LLC; B-Jacks or Better Farm Inc. (FL); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $59,250.
3–Brightwork, 120, f, 3, Outwork–Clarendon Fancy, by Malibu Moon. ($95,000 Wlg '21 FTKNOV). O-WSS Racing; B-Wynnstay Inc. & H. Allen Poindexter (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $34,563.
Margins: 2 3/4, 2HF, 1HF. Odds: 3.73, 3.21, 1.91.
Also Ran: Clearly Unhinged, Run for the Hills, Red Carpet Ready. Scratched: Anywho.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#6 ZEITLOS ($9.46) rallies up the rail under @jose93_ortiz to win the @BreedersCup Win and You're In $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at @KeenelandRacing. The daughter of Curlin is trained by Steve Asmussen.
Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/IilqewgMw8
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 5, 2024
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