Zany wins easily in Suncoast

Feb 07, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Zany wins the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photo)

Odds-on favorite Zany was much the best in Saturday’s $100,000 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs, despite early traffic and her own antics down the stretch.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable, Zany extended her record to a perfect 3-for-3 while collecting 20 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She now has a total of 30, including the points earned in her Demoiselle (G2) romp at Aqueduct last time out.

Zany is so well regarded that her connections have nominated her to the Triple Crown. She won’t try to emulate her Triple Crown-sweeping sire, American Pharoah, but the Belmont (G1) could become an option for her down the road.

The Suncoast was expected to be a cakewalk for Zany, but the race did not unfold in a straightforward manner for the 1-5 favorite. Unlike her front-running debut at Gulfstream Park, and her clear stalk-and-pounce trip in the Demoiselle, Zany found herself racing among horses and surrounded at Tampa.

Stablemate Kadabra grabbed the early lead, attended by Justamomentplease through fractions of :24.89 and :49.55. Zany, who broke from post 3, was stuck in the tightly-bunched group.

The pace was slow enough to prompt Life of Joy, the 2.60-1 second choice, to make an early move to secure better position. Although she got a tactical jump on Zany, her advance on the outside opened the door for the favorite to escape.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. immediately took the opportunity to send Zany after the leaders, and she responded to join the fray rounding the far turn. By that point, pacesetter Kadabra reached six furlongs in 1:13.38, with Life of Joy ranging alongside to challenge.

Zany traveled easily into contention turning for home, with her ears pricked, and she appeared poised to pass the dueling Kadabra and Life of Joy. But Zany was hanging on her left lead, rather than striding out with her right front, and she was lugging in toward Life of Joy instead of maintaining forward progress.

Despite those errors, Zany was galloping so strongly that she forged clear anyway. Ortiz taught her to switch to her right lead, but she still looked green as she veered in again and pricked her ears.

Zany crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths in front while appearing to have plenty in reserve. With Ortiz merely hand-riding her, she finished the mile and 40 yards in 1:40.56.

ZANY was lugging in some, but plenty good in the Suncoast S. and stays undefeated! ☀️

Todd Pletcher trains the 3YO filly and @iradortiz was aboard.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/0bbgrGM5WA

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 7, 2026

Life of Joy was best of the rest by 3 1/2 lengths. Her runner-up effort was worth 10 Oaks points, upping her total to 22. Kadabra was alone in third (six points), followed by Justamomentplease in fourth (four points), Tremont Tammy in fifth (two points), Lightscape, and Y’allreadyforthis. Fly Life was scratched.

Zany, who paid $2.40, has bankrolled $221,500.

The Kentucky-bred chestnut was bred by D. J. Stable and sold for $350,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August. Zany’s dam (mother) is Grade 3 winner Mo’ Green, a daughter of champion and influential sire Uncle Mo.

Zany is likely to put her unbeaten record on the line in the April 3 Ashland (G1) at Keeneland, her final stepping stone to the Kentucky Oaks.