Zytown passes two-turns test in Golden Red(G2)
Nebraska– Remember the name “Zytown,” because you’re gonna hear more from this Speightstown filly next season.
Previously a minor stakes winner in sprints, Zytown elevated her game in last week’s Grade 2 $250,000 Golden Red Stakes. Zyro’s homebred made a big leap forward, capturing both the graded level *and* the two-turns benchmark all in one swoop.
The Golden Red(G2) attracted some pretty good freshmen starlets. The royally bred racetime favorite Jades Treasure garnered the oddmakers’ nod after placing over a mile previously at the graded level. Toss in triska’s Grade 1 winner Ampuria amongst others and you had a fair matchup.
And Ampuria jutted out to an early lead. Unplaced in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Fillies, Ampuria brazenly tossed back challenges from a couple pace pressers. The Unbridled’s Song daughter could not hold off the third though when thebandit’s Jades Treasure wore down the speedster in a dead-on dogfight down the lane.
Meanwhile, Zytown overcame traffic problems, breaking near the back of the pack. Jockey Phillipo Slaven described the rest of the journey in his post-race interview:
“I had to make for the far outside when we swung four wide at the top of the stretch. Zytown still had her ears pricked and it was smooth sailing when we switched leads. She straightened out and gobbled up major ground. Those speedsters were staggering to the wire. A good few jumps in the final hundred yards was all we needed.”
Zytown crossed the wire a length on top. Jades Treasure, in turn, had a length on Ampuria for the place spot.
The final time for the 8.5 furlongs appeared on-paper to be a rather pedestrian 1:43 4/5. However, considering that the BB Juvy Fillies was only one-fifth of a second faster, Zytown & company deserve a second look.
Zytown pushed her record to 5 wins from 7 outings and $244k in earnings. She currently ranks 12th in the 2YO Filly Classic Dirt Division.