Zagora might meet Nahrain in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf
Martin Schwartz’s 5-year-old mare, Zagora, is pointed toward the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The decision was made by trainer Chad Brown after Zagora’s half-length defeat to the Newmarket based, Nahrain, in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park over 1 ¼ miles on 29 September, 2012.
Nahrain’s trainer Roger Varian returned to Newmarket after his 4-year-old filly’s victory in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes, but there has been no decision made regarding the filly staying in the United States and training up to the Breeders’ Cup or returning back to Newmarket.
Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Nahrain finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, and she went on to post her first victory in the Flower Bowl Stakes after four defeats.
The 5-year-old mare by Green Tune, Zagora on the other hand, started off her 2012 season with a victory in the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, and continued her good run of form at the venue and downed the Grade 3 Hillsborough Stakes at about 1 1/8 miles.
Her first off the board finish came in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, when she finished fifth to Daisy Devine in the 1 1/16 mile event.
However, Zagora bounced back at Pimlico to take the Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap, and at Saratoga finished third in the Grade 1 Diana Handicap, and finally winning at Saratoga in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa Stakes at about 1 1/16 miles.
Out of Mtoto mare Zaneton, the France bred, Zagora has never raced at Santa Anita Park, and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf will be her first Breeders’ Cup appearance.
“Zagora is going to the Breeders’ Cup,” Brown said. “Mr. Schwartz has already supplemented her. I thought they both ran very well, and so far they’ve come out of the race well.”
However, another Chad Brown trainee, Dream Peace, who finished third in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes isn’t going to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, because she is not eligible, and Brown could wheel her back to Woodbine to run in the E.P. Taylor.
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