Cavalieri Overcomes Poor Start to Win Zenyatta Stakes

Undefeated Cavalieri kept her record spotless in the Sept. 28 $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park despite hopping in the air when the gate opened. She has so much talent that the head start she gave her four rivals didn't impede her chances. Trainer Bob Baffert, who finished one-two-three with Cavalieri, Richi (CHI), and Howin, had confidence that Cavalieri could overcome the rough beginning, though he added with a grin, "She can't break like that in the Breeders' Cup—we've got to work on that." Cavalieri went off as the 7-10 favorite despite not having run since the March 8 Beholder Mile (G1). Her hop at the start caused her to get away last instead of being first or second early as in her first four races. Juan Hernandez, who has ridden Cavalieri in all of her races, let Cavalieri settle, and she quickly moved up into third while Richi set the pace. "She was moving around in the gate a little bit," Baffert said. "She's such a nice mare. She can come from off the pace. He got her in her stride." Hernandez noted that Cavalieri was nervous and excited, having not run in so long. "Even in the post parade she was dancing a little bit," he said. "In the gate she moved a little bit and then she was okay. But then she moved when they opened the gate. It caused her to miss the break, but she recovered in three jumps and she recovered really well." The three Baffert runners dominated. Richi led for six furlongs, setting fractions of :23.67, :48.00, and 1:11.60. Though Howin ran well, the stretch came down to Richi and Cavalieri. Those two fought briefly before Cavalieri asserted her superiority, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:42.64 for 1 1/16 miles. "The further the better for Cavalieri," Baffert said. That bodes well for Cavalieri's next start, scheduled to come in the 1 1/8-mile Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar as the Zenyatta is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series event for the race. As for Richi, Baffert indicated she might prefer the seven-furlong Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). Peter Fluor, who owns Cavalieri with K.C. Weiner as Speedway Stables, traveled from his home in Houston to see the race. He admitted to worrying slightly after the start of the race. "There's got to be some concern since she's always come out of the gate ready to go," Fluor said. "You're spotting somebody some number of lengths at the beginning and it's been six months. I was hopeful but with concern." Fluor grew up in Arcadia, and he remembers being able to hear the call of the races at Santa Anita from his house. "I actually started going to Del Mar 68 years ago, when I was 10 years old," he said. "My parents, Bob and Lillian Fluor, would rent a place on the beach at Del Mar and take me down there. He said if you come, we'll play golf a few of the mornings—we had a lot of fun." Speedway purchased Cavalieri for $900,000 from Wavertree Stables at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Spring sale of 2-year-olds. The filly initially sold for $170,000 to Redwings Enterprises at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale. Alastar Thoroughbred bred Cavalieri in Kentucky from the stakes-winning Stephen Got Even mare Stiffed, who has also produced graded winner Affirmative Lady. Alastar had purchased Stiffed in foal to Pioneerof the Nile for $320,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale. The mare's yearling colt by Mandaloun went through this year's Keeneland September sale as a $400,000 RNA. Cavalieri followed Johannes as the second graded stakes winner of the weekend at Santa Anita sired by Nyquist, whose 2025 stakes winners also include Del Mar Oaks (G1T) winner Velocity and Summer Stakes (G1) winner Argos. The stallion stood for a 2025 stud fee of $175,000 at Darley near Lexington.