7/4/2020

 4    LA                   Great Lady M Stakes (GII)
   $200.000              3yo&Up F&M                 6 1/2f  Dirt            3yo 119  4yo 123 +penalties

I’m not sure that I’m more shocked that I picked the exacta in this loaded up sprint or that Z Is For Zero was sent off at nearly 9/1 odds.  Saturday’s Great Lady M Stakes (GII) was full of class, speed and ability… and we got the fireworks we expected as First Street Stables’ Z Is For Zero tracked First Impression throughout this six and a half furlong sprint, pushed by in the final stages and took the win by a quarter length in a final time of 1:15.44.  First Impression took the second spot, a quarter length better than her stable-mate, Threat Unknown in third.

The field of eight got away from the gate with  First Impression away fastest of all, then the rail trio of Gobekli Tepe, Z Is For Zero and Bluetooth Baby, Threat Unknown just in behind that group, You Just Have 2 Wait was next, then Tommy Frazier and 99/1 shot Malagan Girl was the early back marker.

Making their way down the backside and now a half mile to run, First Impression continued to show the way by a head along the rail as Z Is For Zero moved up to apply the pressure.  Another length back to Bluetooth Baby on the outside of Gobekli Tepe, then a gap of two back to Threat Unknown along the rail, You Just Have 2 Wait on her flank and Malagan Girl making it three wide as Tommy Frazier drifted back to the trailing spot.

Moving around the far turn and to the top of the lane, less than two furlongs from the wire and First Impression continued to show the way by a length.  Z Is For Zero was just not going away and moved into the two path for the drive, another length to Gobekli Tepe, still hugging the rail, Bluetooth Baby swinging out three wide, another length to Threat Unknown, You Just Have 2 Wait on her outside, Malagan Girl widest of all for the drive and Tommy Frazier continued to trail.

Down the lane and now in deep stretch, this was a two horse battle…  First Impression with the lead, Z Is For Zero digging in to that lead with every stride as the remainder of the field tightened up fighting for the minor money, and inside the final 150-yards, Z Is For Zero stuck a nose in front, First Impression fighting back… and as they hit the wire, it was Z Is For Zero taking the win by a quarter length.  First Impression a game second, then a half length back to the closing Threat Unknown in third.  You Just Have 2 Wait grabbed the fourth spot, a neck better than Tommy Frazier in fifth, Bluetooth Baby was sixth, Gobekli Tepe seventh and Malagan Girl closed this one out. 

Z Is For Zero is a 3yo bay filly by Four Zero – Z Cold One, by Z Jinxed One, and she was bred by her owner, First Street Stables, in ON.  This was her sixth win from ten start, remaining a perfect 4-for-4 this season and has five wins in a row dating back to Dec of last season.  She has to be considered a top sprinter in her class and perhaps one of the best sprinting females going right now.

$2 Mutuel Prices: 

Track: Fast          Time: :23   :45³  1:09¹  1:15²
$1 Exacta: 3 – 6 Paid 15.70        $1 Trifecta: 3 – 6 – 7 Paid 36.10
Scratched: Diamond Dealer, Marbles Blitz

Z Is For Zero broke alertly, stalked the pace to the furlong maker, pushed by, won driving.  First Impression away quickly, led to inside the furlong marker, headed, ceded.  Threat Unknown rated back early, gained position through the turn, good effort.  You Just Have 2 Wait taken back off of the pace, best foot too late.  Tommy Frazier trailed early, passed tiring rivals.  Bluetooth Baby showed good early foot, steady retreat.  Gobekli Tepe speed from the rail, tired.  Malagan Girl was never involved. 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES