CashCall Futurity (gr. I)
(gr. I , 8.5f ,)
PIONEEROF THE NILE
(DK B/ h,
121
lb) $400,000
Empire Maker —Star of Goshen , by
Lord At War (ARG)
B—Zayat Stables, LLC,
KY.;
O—Zayat Stables, LLC;
T—Bob Baffert
I Want Revenge
(DK B/ h,
121
lb) $150,000
Stephen Got Even —Meguial (ARG) , by
Roy
B—David J. Lanzman Racing, Inc.,
KY.;
O—David J. Lanzman Racing Stable, Inc.;
T—Jeff Mullins
Chocolate Candy
(B h,
121
lb) $100,000
Candy Ride (ARG) —Crownette , by
Seattle Slew
B—Jenny Craig,
KY.;
O—Craig Family Trust (Jenny Craig);
T—Jerry Hollendorfer
Margins: nose, 1½, 2. Others: Bittel Road 121($50,000) , Azul Leon 121($30,000) , Axel Foley 121($20,000) , Mark S the Cooler 121 , Hype 121 , Frumious 121 , J P Jammer 121 , Ventana 121 . Winning Jockey, Garrett K. Gomez.
Zayat Stables has gotten into the breeding business in a big way. The outfitÕs first stakes winner as breeder is Pioneerof the Nile, who won the Dec. 20 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park. Zayat Stables, owned by Ahmed Zayat, also campaigns 2-year-old Pioneerof the Nile.
Pioneerof the Nile, who nosed out I Want Revenge as the 7-5 favorite, went into the 11Ú16-mile CashCall with experience at both the distance and the grade I level. He ran third in the LaneÕs End BreedersÕ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland and was fifth, beaten 23Ú4 lengths, in the Oct. 25 Bessemer Trust BreedersÕ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita in his last start.
Pioneerof the NileÕs victory completed a double of sorts for the coltÕs sire, Empire Maker, who stands at Khalid AbdullahÕs Juddmonte Farms near Lexington. In 2007, Empire MakerÕs daughter Country Star won the filly counterpart of the CashCall, the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I). What helped make the accomplishment even more impressive is that Country Star came from Empire MakerÕs first crop and Pioneerof the Nile is from the second crop.
Zayat Stables privately purchased Pioneerof the NileÕs dam, stakes winner Star of Goshen, and one of her daughters, Regala Di Trieste, in a package deal in 2005 from Gary and Betty BiszantzÕ Cobra Farm. The two parties were brought together by Meg LevyÕs Bluewater Sales. Star of Goshen was carrying Pioneerof the Nile at the time, and Regala Di Trieste was in foal to Gulch.
Cobra Farm, located near Lexington, had done business with Ahmed Zayat earlier in 2005. Zayat had bought Pioneerof the NileÕs older half-brother Forefathers for $680,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. Bluewater Sales acted as agent for Cobra.
ÒThey liked Forefathers and that started the relation,Ó said Cobra farm manager Mike Owens.
Forefathers, by Gone West, has placed in four stakes, including the Jerome (gr. II) and Bold Ruler (gr. III) Handicaps and the Swale Stakes (gr. II).
Cobra Farm still owns Star of GoshenÕs 3-year-old daughter Tracing Stars. The unraced daughter of Mineshaft is in foal to Lemon Drop Kid. Cobra is leaning toward sending her to Empire Maker in 2009.
Pioneerof the Nile was consigned to two Keeneland sales. As a weanling, he was withdrawn from the 2006 November breeding stock sale. The following year at the September yearling sale, he was bought back for $290,000 from the consignment of the Hill ÔnÕ Dale Sales Agency.
Zayat Stables ranks atop the 2008 leading owners list, with $6.7 million in earnings. Eleven of its runners are stakes winners, including grade I winner Thorn Song.
Empire Maker, winner of the 2003 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), has sired eight stakes winners. His five added-money winners in 2008 included Acoma (gr. IIT). Empire MakerÕs 2009 fee at Juddmonte is $75,000.ÑD.S.
