Zabarta under Desean Bynoe flies to the win. (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, Ont. – Zabarta, making her stakes debut, crushed her rivals in the $100,000 South Ocean, a seven-furlong main track race for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies, Sunday at Woodbine.
Hot Stuff Baby, the second longest shot on the board at 27-1 in the field of eight, surged to the lead, followed by 7-5 choice Souper Diva and Sipping History, while Zabarta was at the back of the pack through an opening quarter in :22.74.
It was still Hot Stuff Baby on top after a half in :46.58, who looked to power away from her foes heading into the turn for home, as Souper Diva, riding a two-race win streak – both stakes – picked up the pace, while Zabarta, under Desean Bynoe, had moved into seventh.
By mid-stretch, it was the Zabarta show.
On top by a head at the stretch call, the Bill Tharrenos trainee went on to a convincing seven-length score. Pageant Queen was second, 2 ¾ lengths ahead of her stablemate Sipping History. Souper Diva was fourth.
The final time was 1:24.61.
Zabarta, who broke her maiden nine days earlier, earned rave reviews from her connections.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Bynoe, who notched his first stakes victory. “She’s very game. I think she waits on me to ask her and she just goes. So, it makes the job a bit easier. The last start, she was being patient and that’s all I was thinking of the whole day, the whole week – just that one kick. I know she’s got it. I was just being patient.”
Tharrenos, enjoying another strong campaign, also had high praise for the filly, who is now 2-0-0 from four career starts.
“She had a couple little issues – attitude problems – but I really believe she can do it. She’s getting better.”
The victory also marked the first stakes badge for Tara Horse Farm Inc., nom du course of Thomas Knizet.
“I’m happy for this farm,” said Tharrenos. “They have been trying at it for a few years now. She [Zabarta] showed us a little bit of promise earlier on in the spring.”
Sired by Abarta out of the Head Chopper mare Zazinga, the filly, bred by Cyril Simek, finished eighth in her debut on August 22 and followed it up with a fourth on September 11.
She paid $29.50 for the South Ocean win.
