Cavalieri overcame a poor start and kept her perfect record intact when she pounced from just off the pace to claim the victory in the G2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday, Sept. 28. The victory earned the four-year-old daughter of Nyquist an automatic, fees-paid berth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Making just her fifth career start and her first since winning the G1 Beholder Mile in March, Cavalieri hopped slightly out of the starting gate, setting her at an immediate disadvantage. Usually one to set the pace, Cavalieri found herself in third as stablemates Richi and Howin went right to the front.
Jockey Juan Hernandez, the regular rider of Cavalieri, wasn’t concerned, though, as his filly easily glided into second, just a half-length behind Richi, after the opening half mile. Cavalieri moved onto even terms with Richi as the field hit the top of the stretch and the pair battled briefly, until Cavalieri began inching away in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by one and three-quarter lengths.
Bred in Kentucky by Alastar Thoroughbred Co. LLC, Cavalieri is out of the mare Stiffed, a multiple Stakes winning daughter of Steven Got Even and a half sister to multiple Stakes winners Speaking and Sea Streak. In addition to Cavalieri, Stiffed is also the dam of Affirmative Lady (Arrogate), winner of the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and runner-up in the G2 Demoiselle Stakes.
Cavalieri became the second Graded Stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup qualifier of the weekend for her sire, Nyquist. On Saturday at Santa Anita, G1 winner Johannes defended his title in the G2 City of Hope Mile and will now be pointed to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Nyquist is also the sire of additional 2025 Grade 1 winners Argos and Velocity.
