Chilean Cocoa Beach Second in BC Ladies Race
South American Entrant Placed, Challenged Bayakoa Feat
Nov 3, 2008
Chilean-bred Cocoa Beach proved to have the most staying power to the powerful win in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic by "The Monster", Zenyatta. Another South American (Distaff) winner, Bayakoa, also represented a challenge for Cocoa Beach.
Argentine Bayakoa Two-Time Distaff Winner
The Argentine Bayakoa won the (then named Distaff) Ladies Classic in 1989 and again in 1990, the only back-to-back victor in the race's 25 year history.
Cocoa Beach sported a four-wins-from-six-starts record before the BC Ladies Classic. With her place finish, she kept her always-on-the-board slate clean. In addition to her previous four wins, Cocoa Beach had earned one second and one third.
In a twist of circumstances, Cocoa Beach and show filly Music Note are both trained by Godolphin Racing's Saeed bin Suroor, who also conditioned Zenyatta's sire, Street Cry.
2008 BC Ladies Classic Complete Order of Finish
Following is the complete order of finish for the BC Ladies Classic, as well as the entrants' 2008 race records, pedirees, and jockeys:
- Zenyatta ----- 6:6-0-0 ----- Street Cry (IRE)--Vertigieux, by Kris S. ----- M. Smith
- Cocoa Beach ----- 6:4-1-1 ----- Doneraile Court--Visionera (CHI), by Edgy Diplomat ----- R. Dominguez
- Music Note ----- 5:4-1-0 ----- A.P. Indy--Note Musicale (GB), by Sadler's Wells ----- J. Castellano
- Carriage Trail ----- 8:3-2-1 ----- Giant's Causeway--Manoa, by Seeking the Gold ----- K. Desormeaux
- Hystericalady ----- 7:4-1-1----- Distorted Humor--Saramentada (CHI), by Northair ----- G. Gomez
- Ginger Punch ----- 7:5-1-1 ----- Awesome Again--Nappelon, by Bold Revenue ----- R. Bejarano
- Santa Teresita ----- 6:2-2-1 ----- Lemon Drop Kid--Sweet Gold, by Gilded Time ----- M. Baze
- Bear Now ----- 6:3-1-2 ----- Tiznow--Controlled, by In Excess (IRE) ----- E. Da Silva
Zenyatta's Winning Connections
The Jerry and Ann Moss-owner-John Shirreffs-trainer-Mike Smith-jockey connection has been very successful. Zenyatta's overpowering win in the Ladies Classic was followed by a huge third place upset in the (boys') Classic when little regarded Tiago nosed out reigning champion Curlin for show.
Mike Smith won his 12th Breeders' Cup race with Zenyatta. He notched win number 11 earlier in the day aboard Stardom Bound, who convincingly took the Juvenile Fillies crown.
Tiago is a half-brother to Giacomo, a 50-1 longshot winner of the 2005 Kentcky Derby. Giacomo went fourth in the 2006 BC Classic. Tiago ran fifth in the 2007 Classic to winner Curlin.
Three Former Entrants Finished Second Twice
In 1998 and 1999 Banshee Breeze went second in the BC Distaff. In addition, Heavenly Prize finished second in 1995 and 1994, and Versailles Treaty turned the trick in 1992 and 1991.
Inside Information won the Distaff in 1995 by a record 13-1/2 lengths. Winning Colors, the 1988 Kentucky Derby winner, and the unbeaten Personal Ensign created the most memorable dash to the Distaff wire in 1988. Personal Ensign ground out a nose victory in a determined drive through the final sixteenth.
Cocoa Beach Played Rail
Jockey Ramon Dominguez chose to keep Cocoa Beach on the fence through the Ladies Classic's first six furlongs. When he asked his filly for kick, she finished in style, cruising beside the rail and tossing aside Hystericalady, who challenged from three wide, Carriage Trail, who had drifted from the fence, and Music Note, who continued to rally.
It wasn't a Bayakoa feat, but Cocoa Beach achieved a winning effort by taking place money in a two-day Breeders' Cup dominated by foreign entries.
