Oversubscribed Pan Zareta Draws Contentious Field of Turf Sprinters
New Orleans, La (Nov. 25, 2024) – With 14 older fillies and mares entered, 12 will reach the starting gates on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for one of the most contentious editions of the $100,000 Pan Zareta in recent memory. Marjac Farm, Tom Evans, Dr. Ted Forrest, Joseph Burke, and Joseph Belford’s All I Want Is You was tabbed as the tepid 4-1 morning line favorite, but there are eight in the body of the field who were made 8-1 or below. The 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint is slated as Race 8 of 9 on Saturday’s program.
Moving through her conditions with aplomb, All I Want Is You’s stretch rallies have led her to the winner’s circle in three of her six 4-year-old attempts. Facing stout company last out in an allowance at Keeneland, the Ignacio Correas trainee made a bold move to the rail in the stretch to get up ahead of Pan Zareta foe Off Ramp, as well as the likes of Oeuvre and Bling. Aboard for her two most recent wins, Jose Ortiz will be reunited with All I Want Is You, who drew post 12.
Runaway Racing’s Alla Breva has rattled off three straight wins for trainer Michael Matz, including a last-to-first victory two back in the Jameela. In that summer stake at Laurel Park the Mendelssohn filly was followed in order of finish by Larry Johnson’s Hollywood Walk and Joel Politi’s homebred Bosserati–two other major players in the Pan Zareta.
A half sibling to 3-year-old star Mindframe, Larry Johnson’s Hollywood Walk showed how game she can be when running down Mystic Seaport and Bosserati in the stretch of the $150,000 Camptown Handicap at Colonial Downs. After that August effort, trainer Mike Trombetta shipped her to Belmont at Aqueduct where she finished third in the Floral Park, 1/2 lengths shy of Secret Money and Love Appeals.
Always up for doing the dirty work on the lead, Joel Politi’s homebred Bosserati held on last out to take the Maryland Million Turf Sprint, adding a second stakes title to her resume. Trained by Brittany Russell, who has a string this year at Fair Grounds, the lightning quick 4-year-old drew the rail and will have David Cohen in the irons.
Other logical rivals include two 3-year-olds loaded with potential: the Irish-bred Ever So Sweet, who is three for six for Brad Cox; Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s Cloudwalker, sharp off a recent win at Keeneland for Brendan Walsh; and Cypress Creek Equine’s homebred Moonlit Lady, who sports three gate-to-wire wins for trainer Fausto Gutierrez.
Here is the complete field for the $100,000 Pan Zareta from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): Bosserati (Cohen, Russell, 8-1), Cloudwalker (Declan Cannon, Walsh, 8-1), Moonlit Lady (Axel Concepcion, Gutierrez, 12-1), Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Cox, 5-1), Accomplished Girl (Jareth Loveberry, Steve Asmussen, 8-1), Hollywood Walk (Jeiron Barbosa, Trombetta, 8-1), Alla Breve (Mitchell Murrill, Matz, 8-1), Cecile (Fernando Jara, Lindsay Schultz, 20-1), Faccia Bella (C.J. McMahon, Chris Block, 30-1), Off Ramp (Jamie Torres, Joe Sharp, 8-1), Cupids Crush (James Graham, McLean Robertson, 12-1), All I Want Is You (Ortiz, Correas, 4-1), AE Sugar Bee (Colby Hernandez, Milan Milosevic, 30-1), AE Wild About Hilary (C.J. McMahon, Tanner Tracy, 30-1).
Live racing resumes at Fair Grounds on Thursday, Nov. 28. The 10-race card featuring the Centennial running of the $225,000 Thanksgiving Classic and has an early first post of noon. The 3-day racing week will conclude on Saturday. The 153rd meet continues in December, with live racing following the regular Thursday through Sunday schedule.
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.
