GRADE II, $200,000 ZENYATTA STAKES QUOTES 2025

GRADE II, $200,000 ZENYATTA STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

JUAN HERNANDEZ, CAVALIERI, WINNER: “She was acting up, she was nervous. It had been a while since she had run so she was excited. Even in the post parade she was dancing a little bit. 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. She was tracking the horse in front of me the whole race. She knew that she was in the right spot because she wasn’t pulling or trying to go by. She was running really comfortably the whole race. Turning for home at the quarter pole, I asked her to pick it up, she switched leads, she took off and passed the horse in front of me. She is back.”

TRAINER QUOTES

BOB BAFFERT, CAVALIERI, WINNER: “When she missed the break I thought, ‘Well, oh well’. But we knew that she is very talented. He got her up there. Juan, he didn’t panic. He was patient with her and got her in a nice spot down the backside. When I saw the fillies going down together I knew they were going to have to sprint home. They went easy the first half, so I think that helped a lot. She is just so talented, the further the better for her. Now she has had the time off. I knew she was going to be a little rusty today. I didn’t think she was going to be that rusty in the gate, but she was. This will set her up perfectly for the Breeders’ Cup.”

OWNER QUOTES

PETER FLUOR, CAVALIERI, WINNER: “I was scared. She usually comes out straight. She jumped up into the air, but I thought it was a gallant effort for not running for six months. Bob had her conditioned beautifully. At the backstretch I started feeling better and at the top of the stretch I felt even better.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Speedway Stables, LLC.