CAST IN THE ROLE OF ‘OTHER BAFFERT,’ VALE DORI EXECUTES MAJOR UPSET IN WINNING GRADE I ZENYATTA STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

CAST IN THE ROLE OF ‘OTHER BAFFERT,’ VALE DORI EXECUTES MAJOR UPSET IN WINNING GRADE I, $300,000 ZENYATTA STAKES BY THREE QUARTERS OF A LENGTH UNDER TALAMO; HEAVILY FAVORED ABEL TASMAN NEVER A FACTOR

WITH $474,683 BET TO SHOW ON FAVORITE, WINNER PAYS $40.60 TO SHOW

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 30, 2018)—With $474,683 bet to show on her stablemate, 1-9 favorite Abel Tasman, Vale Dori relished the role of being the “Other Baffert” in Sunday’s Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes and she responded with an inspired pace-pressing performance under Joe Talamo that saw her defeat late running La Force by three quarters of a length while Abel Tasman finished next to last, beaten 10 ½ lengths. Off at 11-1 in a field of six fillies and mares three and up, Vale Dori got 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.88.
A Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race, Vale Dori now has a fees-paid berth into the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.
“I’m worried about (Abel Tasman) because Mike (Smith) said she was lethargic, and she’s up there where all these sick horses are, so I hope she’s not getting sick,” said Baffert, who although Abel Tasman fizzled, still notched his third career win in the Zenyatta. “…I’m about as shocked as everybody else, but they’ll do that.”
When asked about Vale Dori adding blinkers today, Baffert responded, “She’d been working well, but she hadn’t been getting away from the gate. If she doesn’t get away well, she doesn’t run well.”
Baffert then addressed Abel Tasman’s demeanor at the starting gate.
“When I saw Abel Tasman break horrible like that, it looked like shades of Arrogate at Del Mar in the (2017) San Diego…She’s never run a bad one. Mike said she felt sound and all that, but she was just completely lethargic…My main concern is that Abel’s okay and not getting sick on me.”
Although a Group and Grade I winner, Vale Dori, a 6-year-old Argentine-bred mare, was most recently a well beaten second in a restricted one mile stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 24. Winless in her last six starts, she added blinkers today and paid $24.60, $13.20 and a whopping $40.60 to show.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, Vale Dori picked up $180,000 for the win, increasing her bankroll to $1,365,567. Her overall race record now stands at 21-10-6-2.
As for German-bred La Force, she put in her customary late bid and was easily second, finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Shenandoah Queen, who was gunned to the early lead.
Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, La Force was the 5-1 second choice and paid $8.40 and $14.60.
Shenandoah Queen, with Tyler Baze up, finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Lemoona for third. Off at 20-1, Shenandoah Queen paid $2660 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.98, 48.02, 1:12.35 and 1:38.07.

ZENYATTA STAKES QUOTES

JOE TALAMO, VALE DORI, WINNER: “Bob said to try and get her out, whether she’s first or second, and just get her into a real smooth rhythm.
“She was laying perfect right off of Tyler’s filly there and I had a lot of horse around the turn. I was just biding my time, just waiting for anyone to come before I let her loose and when I did, she really took off very nicely. I really thought Abel Tasman was going to come running but that’s horse racing for you.”

MIKE SMITH, ABEL TASMAN, FIFTH: “I’m just really not sure what happened with her today. I’m kind of at a loss for words. The good thing is that she didn’t run a get-out run, she didn’t run period. For whatever reason she was lethargic loading and she was slow into stride and never wanted to pick it up.
“There’s been a bit of the flu going around the backside with some of these horses so hopefully it’s not hitting her, but it certainly could have. She kind of made a middle move down the backside to get herself into some sort of position to maybe make a run and I thought she could probably still win anyway. But then she just decided that was enough.
“This was a little reminiscent of her run at Churchill (May 4) coming off the layoff but more so today. She can break slow at times but it doesn’t take her more than three or four jumps to get her big body moving forward. Once she does, she gets into the bridle and takes you places, as we’ve all seen many times. Today, it just wasn’t there and I didn’t want to get after her anymore. She was letting me know that she wanted no part of it. We’ll just throw this one out and hopefully we’ll be fine.
“She’s been working tremendous. We got her home safe and sound so we’ll go back to the drawing board and if a temperature or something comes up it’ll pop up pretty soon.”

DRAYDEN VAN DYKE, LA FORCE, SECOND: “She settled nice like she always does and she made her run. It would have been nice to have a little pace up front but she ran a helluva race.”

TRAINER QUOTES

BOB BAFFERT, VALE DORI, WINNER, AND ABEL TASMAN, FIFTH: “I’m worried about that mare (Abel Tasman) because Mike (Smith) said she was lethargic, and she’s up there where all these sick horse are, so I hope she’s not getting sick.
“She was never interested today all. I’m about as shocked as everybody else, but they’ll do that. (Asked about blinkers on Vale Dori): She’d been working well, but she hadn’t been getting away from the gate, and if she doesn’t get away well, she doesn’t run well.
“When I saw Abel break horrible like that, it looked like shades of Arrogate at Del Mar in the San Diego. Mike said after that she wasn’t interested and he didn’t push her, but that’s not the Abel that we know. She’s never run a bad one. He said she felt sound and all that but she was just completely lethargic . . . My main concern is that Abel’s OK and not getting sick on me.”

Cover Photo: Vale Dori; Benoit

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