Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Stonestreet Stables LLC and Peter Leidel’s Zeitlos rallied from last to win Saturday’s 15th running of the $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) at Churchill Downs by 1 ¾ lengths over Positano Sunset.
Ridden by Cristian Torres for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Zeitlos ran 6 ½ furlongs over a fast track in 1:16.87 to collect her fourth win in six starts at Churchill Downs.
Run for the Hills emerged as the early leader down the backstretch after an opening quarter mile in :22.29 with Happy Am I and Unsung Melody chasing. Positano Sunset was settled in fourth along the inside and was followed by Backyard Money and the trailing Zeitlos.
After rounding the turn and a half-mile in :45.17, Zeitlos remained in last at the top of the stretch but was hitting her best stride. Run for the Hills began to tire with an eighth of a mile to the finish and Zeitlos collared her at the sixteenth pole and drew clear for the win.
“She’s such a nice filly and a fun horse to ride,” Torres said. “Up the backside we were pretty relaxed as Jose (Ortiz) and (Run for the Hills) got a pretty easy lead but was going fast. In mid-stretch his filly was getting tired and we were finding our best stride. She comes with such a big closing kick that I’m always confident I’ll have a lot of horse beneath me in the stretch.”
Zeitlos banked the $183,450 first prize and improved her record to seven wins, four seconds and one third in 15 starts. Her career earnings total $817,017. The Open Mind was her third career stakes triumph after landing the $150,000 Carousel at Oaklawn Park and $200,000 Roxelana at Churchill Downs earlier this year.
#2 ZEITLOS ($4.88) goes from last to first in the stretch to win the $300,000 Open Mind Stakes at @ChurchillDowns. The daughter of Curlin was ridden by @cristiantorr64 and is trained by Steve Asmussen.
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 14, 2024
Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/oBf43KDVuO
“She’s a very versatile filly and with the closing kick you’d think she could be turf but she continues to show her versatility on both surfaces,” Asmussen said. “We’re very fortunate to have her in our barn, being a Stonestreet homebred and a testament to their program. I think Cristian fits her beautifully and has ridden her very well.”
Zeitlos returned $4.88, $2.90 and $2.18 as the 7-5 favorite. Positano Sunset, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $2.96 and $2.46 with Happy Am I another 1 ¾ lengths back in third under Tyler Gaffalione and paying $3.46 to show.
Run for the Hills was fourth and was followed by Unsung Melody and Backyard Money.
Zeitlos is a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin out of the Redoute’s Choice (AUS) mare Thyme For Roses (AUS) and was bred in Kentucky by Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC.
Saturday’s race saluted the late Eugene Klein’s Hall of Fame filly Open Mind, the D. Wayne Lukas-trained winner of the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Churchill Downs who returned to the Louisville track the following spring to win the Kentucky Oaks. The New Jersey-bred filly was an Eclipse Award champion at ages two and three. A winner of 12 races and $1,844,372 in 19 starts, the daughter of Deputy Minister was enshrined in Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
