Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman couldn't make travel arrangements to get to Santa Anita Oct. 1 and see their 4-year-old gelding Defunded win the Awesome Again Stakes (G1). But they got there to watch homebred 3-year-old filly Midnight Memories capture the Oct. 2 Zenyatta Stakes (G2).
"Nothing was working yesterday," said Pegram.
The three owners accepted accolades in the winner's circle for Midnight Memories.
"This one just keeps on getting better," Pegram said. "It looks like she's a runner."
In the mile Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar Sept. 4, Midnight Memories led throughout under Ramon Vazquez. In the 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta, with Vazquez back aboard, she stumbled leaving the gate and bumped with Soothsay, the 2021 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) winner. Soothsay went to the front, completing the first quarter-mile in :24.16.
"She didn't break that well," said Bob Baffert, Midnight Memories' trainer. "But Ramon was really patient with her. He never got in her way."
Midnight Memories tracked the leaders, and down the backside she grabbed the lead. It was short-lived, however, with Soothsay quickly regaining the advantage. Midnight Memories remained in contention around the turn, racing into the stretch three wide.
She forged to the front again in upper stretch, and this time it was for keeps. Midnight Memories drew away to score by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:45.07 as the 8-5 favorite.
"From the beginning of the race, we took a nice position," said Vazquez. "In the last quarter, she ran really well."
Awake At Midnyte finished second by a neck over longshot Empire House, followed by Soothsay and Samurai Charm.
Pegram, Watson, and Weitman are having a phenomenal year. They led all owners at Del Mar, and one race after Midnight Memories' Zenyatta, their Speed Boat Beach won the Speakeasy Stakes.
Baffert knows Midnight Memories' family well. He trained her sire, Mastery; the first two dams, Tiz Midnight and Tough Tiz's Sis; the broodmare sire, Midnight Lute ; and Midnight Lute's sire, Real Quiet.
"We just took our time with her," said Baffert of Kentucky-bred Midnight Memories, who didn't start at 2. "She was slow coming around; I think a lot of the Masterys are that way."
By the time Midnight Memories was ready, Baffert was serving his suspension from the finding of betamethasone in Medina Spirit. Thus, Sean McCarthy trained her for her first two races at Santa Anita. She broke her maiden in her debut by 1 1/4 lengths April 30, and despite stumbling in her second start, June 5, she prevailed by a neck.
"In her second race, she got left there and she came running," said Pegram.
Baffert returned at Del Mar, and in Midnight Memories' first race for him, she finished third after rearing up and nearly falling in the paddock. She then captured the Torrey Pines in her first race with Vazquez aboard.
Though the Zenyatta is not a "Win & You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup, it is part of the new Dirt Dozen, which earns horses credit toward entry fees for several of the dirt events, including the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).
