Zany wins Demoiselle for fun; Consequent strongest late in Starlet

Dec 06, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Zany wins the Demoiselle at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Odds-on favorite Zany might have turned Saturday’s $250,000 Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct into a laugher, but she announced herself as a serious candidate for the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The daughter of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah was extending Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher’s all-time Demoiselle record to 10 wins. Zany is the fifth of those winners campaigned by Repole Stable, including champion Nest (2021) (who was owned in partnership).

Later Saturday at Los Alamitos, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert similarly extended his grip on the record book in the $200,000 Starlet (G2). But his 12th victory in the Starlet, and ninth in a row, didn’t come courtesy of 2-5 favorite Nimah. Instead, 2.80-1 second choice, Consequent, rallied late to deny the upset-minded Cashed from the Doug O’Neill barn.

Demoiselle (G2)

In her only previous start, Zany romped by 6 1/2 lengths in a sprint maiden at Gulfstream Park. The robust chestnut was stretching out to 1 1/8 miles here, but she proved a class apart from her five rivals.

Ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz Jr., Zany closely stalked pacesetter Shilling through fractions of :24.05, :48.16, and 1:12.46. The 3-4 favorite was ready to roll, turning for home, and she put the race away at the top of the stretch.

Zany drew off by 8 1/2 lengths and posted a final time of 1:50.55. Her triumphant stakes debut netted her 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

Jumping the Gun earned five Oaks points by edging Concurrently for second. Concurrently, by American Pharoah, like Zany, was just a neck away in third (three points). Shilling tired to fourth (two points), followed by Zany’s stablemate Believable in fifth (one point). Ivy Girl brought up the rear.

Zany dominates and gives trainer Todd Pletcher his 10th win in the G2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct! 💪🏆@iradortiz was aboard the 2YO filly wearing the @repolestable silks. pic.twitter.com/buOfJZQ8Vl

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 6, 2025

Now 2-for-2, Zany paid $3.50 while boosting her earnings to $161,500.

“She did it the right way, every step of the way,” Ortiz said. “She broke good and put me in a beautiful spot. I let her do what she wanted to do, and she just held her ground and stayed steady until I asked her to go. Honestly, she was doing it pretty easy. She made the lead and was looking around a little bit, but it was impressive the way she did it today.”

Pletcher was pleased with how Zany responded to the jump up in distance.

“It went like we hoped it would,” the horseman said. “She trained very impressively, but you are always concerned making one start at 6 1/2 (furlongs) and stretching out to a mile and an eighth in only her second start. I thought her last breeze before we decided to ship her was pretty impressive, so it seemed like the right thing to do.”

Pletcher’s Demoiselle honor roll includes Hall of Famer Ashado (2003) and champion Malathaat (2020), both of whom would go on to win the Kentucky Oaks as well as the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

When asked about Zany’s long-term potential, Pletcher was hopeful.

“Man, I hope so. Malathaat, Nest, some of those that were able to go on and have great careers afterwards. It’s been a race for us that has not only been lucky on the day, but it’s produced some horses have gone on and done very well.”

Zany will return to her winter base at Palm Beach Downs as connections plot her path to the Oaks at Churchill Downs on the first Friday in May.

Bred by D.J. Stable in Kentucky, Zany was purchased for $350,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. Her mother, Mo’ Green, achieved her career high in the 2017 Top Flight (G3), held over the same track and distance as the Demoiselle.

Starlet (G2)

Consequent gave Bob Baffert a ninth straight victory, and 12th overall, in the Starlet (G2) (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Like Zany, Nimah was attempting to stretch out from her debut win in a sprint, but she illustrated how challenging it can be when fading to third in the Starlet.

In contrast, stablemate Consequent had graduated at first asking over a mile at Del Mar. She put her routing experience and closing style to good use down the long stretch at Los Alamitos.

A Juddmonte homebred by leading sire Into Mischief, Consequent settled in third early for jockey Kazushi Kimura. Nimah, who wired her first start, took up a prominent position to track Cashed.

Although Cashed was a length up through an opening quarter in :23.52, her margin dwindled to a head as Nimah ratcheted up the pressure through splits of :48.01 and 1:12.46. Nimah tried to pass Cashed at the top of the lane, but the longtime leader proved resilient.

Aside from her own steely resolve, Cashed made it harder on Nimah by coming out and brushing her. The favorite couldn’t overtake her and ultimately failed to maintain her position alongside.

Meanwhile, Consequent was just beginning to hit top gear after appearing a bit outpaced. Looking stronger the farther they went, she reeled in Cashed by a length to pick up 10 Oaks points.

Cashed crossed the wire four lengths clear of Nimah, but she had to survive a stewards’ inquiry to retain the runner-up spot (and its five points). Upon review, the stewards ruled that the “slight contact” did not warrant a disqualification.

Nimah received three points in third. The respective fourth and fifth, Cosmic Heart (two points) and Jewlz (one point), concluded the order of finish in the small field. Baffert scratched his other entrant, Himika.

Consequent covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.03 and rewarded her fans with $7.60. The Kentucky-bred bay has bankrolled $156,000 from her 2-for-2 record.

Consequent’s full sister, multiple stakes winner Show Card, landed last year’s Dark Mirage S. at Los Alamitos. Their mother, Cognitive, hails from the family of champion and 2021 Kentucky Oaks star Malathaat (mentioned above in the Demoiselle recap).

Cognitive is a daughter of Uncle Mo, who is also responsible for Zany’s mother, Mo’ Green. Thus, Uncle Mo, a champion on the track and a major sire, continues to exert a significant influence in pedigrees.