Zeitlos. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.–Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel’s Zeitlos cut the corner at the top of the stretch and drew off for a 2¾-length victory over Spirit Wind in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2).
Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Zeitlos completed the 6 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.52.
With the victory, Zeitlos earned a fees-paid berth into the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be held at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
Clearly Unhinged led the field of six through an opening quarter-mile of :21.54 as Zeitlos was content at the back of the pack. On the far turn, Ortiz guided Zeitlos off the rail to pass Run for the Hills and then went back inside approaching the top of the stretch.
At the three-sixteenths pole, Zeitlos ducked to the inside of Clearly Unhinged to go after Spirit Wind, who had taken the lead. Zeitlos surged past at the eighth pole and coasted to her first graded stakes victory.
The victory was worth $214,288 and made Zeitlos a millionaire with earnings of $1,031,305 with a record of 16-8-4-1. A Keeneland sales graduate, Zeitlos is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Thyme For Roses.
Zeitlos returned $9.46, $4.16 and $2.66. Spirit Wind, ridden by Mike Smith, returned $4.58 and $2.86 and finished 2½ lengths in front of favored Brightwork, who paid $2.58 to show under Luis Saez.
It was another 1½ lengths back to Clearly Unhinged, who was followed in order by Run for the Hills and Red Carpet Ready.
Racing continues Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET with a 10-race program that features three stakes headlined by the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares. The Juddmonte Spinster is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
Quotes from the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2)
Jose Ortiz (rider of winner Zeitlos): “She’s a closer so I just wanted to wait as long as I could. I was in good range at the quarter pole, and I felt like was sitting on a ton of horse. I saw the rail opening up and I went for it. I had a lot of horse. She was much the best today.”
Steve Asmussen (winning trainer), On seeing Zeitlos close on a track where speed has been carrying: “It was remarkable. 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.”
Mike Smith (rider of runner-up Spirit Wind): “Great trip. I was just happy that she ran all the way through the wire. She ran well. (The race) set up really well. She broke well, she likes to do that.”
Luis Saez (rider of third-place finisher and beaten favorite Brightwork): “Pretty nice trip. Couldn’t get there. She never gave up – she was trying until the end. The race was pretty tough.”
