Zo Impressive and Disposablepleasure fight for domination in the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks
Zo Impressive and Disposablepleasure battled it out in the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park on 23rd June, 2012, and it was Zo Impressive who prevailed in the 1 1/16 mile event by ¾ of a length.
Now, the rivalry will be renewed as both runners face off in the Grade 1, $300,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks, which will be hosted at Saratoga on 21st July, 2012, over the distance of 1 1/8 miles.
Zo Impressive, who is under the wing of Thomas Albertrani, looks in good shape. Over the course of this season, she has performed well. From five starts, she has collected three victories and, finished twice as a runner-up.
Paired with jockey Rajiv Maragh, she finished as a runner-up in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks after, Grace Hall, over 1 1/8 miles.
The trainer believes that the runner should be able to tackle the two turns in this race, as she has done it before.
"She ran around two turns at Gulfstream and didn't have any problems," said the trainer. "I don't think the extra distance should be an issue as she was edging away from Disposablepleasure in the last 50 yards of the Mother Goose."
Todd Pletcher’s charge, Disposablepleasure, is returning to the track in a much better from. Disposablepleasure is the daughter of Giacomo, out of Approval mare My Canada.
The trainer is optimistic about her performance in this race, referring to the Mother Goose he said:
"She just couldn't get past Zo Impressive. It was another improved effort. Each race this year she has gotten a little better, and hopefully she'll continue to move forward and maybe knock one of these down one of these days. I think a mile and an
eighth suits her well."
The Glencrest Farm LLC owned filly has raced over this distance before and that might work in her favour.
Ridden by Javier Castellano, the sophomore finished as a runner-up in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on 18th May, 2012.
Zo Impressive will break from post position number 5 as a favourite with a 2-1 chance and, will be mounted by Rajiv Maragh, while Disposablepleasure will carry jockey Rosie Napravnik and enter the race from post 2.
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