Zany Puts Perfect Record on Line in Ashland Stakes

Not only has Zany been perfect on the track to date, but even on weekends that the 3-year-old daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah doesn't run her reputation is enhanced. Zany is scheduled to return to racing for the first time since Feb. 7 as she's entered in the $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1), the featured race on opening day of the Keeneland spring meet, April 3. While Repole Stable's Zany has won her first three starts by a combined 17 3/4 lengths, including decisive victories in last year's Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack and a 3-year-old season-opening win in the Suncoast Stakes in February at Tampa Bay Downs, she also was flattered March 21 when Life of Joy rolled to a 3 3/4-length win in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). One start earlier, Life of Joy finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Zany in the Suncoast. With Zany, trainer Todd Pletcher will try to capture the Ashland for the fourth time in six years. Mike Repole and Pletcher have traveled this path before as Nest captured the Demoiselle and Suncoast stakes ahead of her runaway victory in the 2022 Ashland for Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House. The Ashland offers 200 qualifying points to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on a 100-50-25-15-10 schedule to the top five finishers. Road to the Kentucky Oaks points standings While the connections of Zany hope she can improve off her season debut, the connections of Percy's Bar are looking forward to their filly returning to the races Friday for the first time since finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Oct. 31 at Del Mar. Hat Creek Racing's Percy's Bar previously has raced well at Keeneland, winning her debut in a maiden special weight race at last year's spring meet and then later reaching the wire first in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) before being demoted to second by the stewards for interfering with Tommy Jo in the stretch. The daughter of Upstart is grade 1-placed three times as she also finished second to Tommy Jo in last year's Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. "She has been breezing spectacularly and doing it all on her own," trainer Ben Colebrook said. "We haven't really asked her and the past four works have all been bullets." Percy's Bar wrapped up that stretch of breezes March 24 with a half-mile move in :47 2/5 at Keeneland, fastest of 10 at the distance. "Going into a grade 1 without a prep is a lot to ask, but I couldn't be happier with the way she is training," Colebrook said. While D. J. Stable is the breeder of Zany, the family racing operation headed by Jonathan Green is also the owner of French Friction, who secured her second win in as many starts when she drew off to win the Dixie Belle Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths Feb. 14 at Oaklawn Park. The daughter of City of Light will stretch out to two turns for the first time after winning at 6 furlongs in her first two races. French Friction is trained by Mark Casse, who captured last year's Ashland with La Cara after a victory in the Suncoast Stakes.