DEL MAR : Zoonaqua Steady in Sorrento

When she won by six lengths in the first start of her life on July 25 at Hollywood Park, Zoonaqua was never more than a head from the lead.

While some might have panicked when the 2-year-old Silver Hawk filly was being outrun early in the $82,875 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar on Wednesday, trainer Brian Mayberry wasn’t among them.

He has complete confidence in Eddie Delahoussaye. “In my opinion, he’s the best rider in the United States today,” Mayberry said. “He does it all, and he does it with humility.”

Delahoussaye didn’t let Mayberry down. Eighth after a half-mile, Zoonaqua sailed past favored Eliza in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:22 2/5 for the seven furlongs.

Owned by Jerry Moss, Zoonaqua paid $15.60 to win and earned a spot in the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5.

“She’s still green,” Delahoussaye said. “She’s learning. We got jostled away from the gate; there were horses coming out and coming in and we got bumped around.

“So, we were farther back than I thought to start. I just took ahold of her and let her settle. I figured if she was good enough, she could handle it late. I wasn’t going to rush her. Around the turn, I asked her, and she gave me a good, steady run.

“She doesn’t have that quick burst of speed. She’ll love that mile (of the Debutante). I guess we’ll catch the same bunch of fillies. If she keeps improving, we’ll be in good shape for that one.”

Mayberry said the victory would be a nice get-well gift for Kentucky Gov. Brereton Jones. Zoonaqua was purchased by Mayberry for the Mosses from Jones’ consignment at a Keeneland fall sale for $255,000. Resting at home after injuring his back in a helicopter crash on Aug. 7, Jones called Mayberry on Wednesday morning to wish him luck.

“He’s the best governor in the United States,” Mayberry said. “(Silver Hawk) is a brilliant sire. His record speaks for itself, and she was a nice-looking filly. Gov. Jones makes a sincere effort to breed a nice horse, so we look at them very closely. She had all the attributes we look for in a young filly.

“The nice thing about this filly is, it looks like she’ll run all day; and with her breeding, she should love the turf.”

Eliza, a half-sister to Dinard, was brought back 10 days after winning her first start, and the 11-10 favorite wound up second, a length in front of 17-1 shot Medici Bells. Eliza set the pace through fractions of 21 4/5, 44 1/5 and 1:09 2/5.

“She tried to run off with me,” jockey Pat Valenzuela said of Eliza. “I wanted to be laying third or fourth. That was my ideal spot. But she dragged me to the lead. She came back from that sprint the other day really sharp. She was too sharp today.”

Sweet Mama was fourth; then, in order, came Brave Hearted, Anybody’s Natural, Unchained Princess, Passing Vice, Blue Moonlight, Don’t Ignore and Dance for Vanny. Countess Ferdinand and Me And Myun were scratched.

Fly Till Dawn, the easy winner of the San Juan Capistrano in his last start on April 26, will get another six months off after it was diagnosed that he had an injury to a ligament behind the knee. The examination was performed at the San Luis Rey Downs Equine Clinic.

“He’ll be out six months, and after that it’s up to (owner) Mrs. (Josephine) Gleis whether she wants to bring him back or to stand him at stud,” trainer Darrell Vienna said.

Jolie’s Halo, who won the Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park in his most recent appearance, will be shipped to Del Mar Monday to prepare for the $1-million Pacific Classic on Aug. 30.

Should Jolie’s Halo, who is unbeaten in two starts this year, win the 1 1/4-mile stake, the final race of the American Championship Racing Series, he would wrap up third place in the point standings and a $225,000 bonus. Strike The Gold and Best Pal have clinched the first two spots.

Paseana, who will be the first filly or mare to run in an ACRS event in the Classic, will work a mile between races Sunday. Defensive Play, who is considered a probable starter, worked seven furlongs in 1:28 Tuesday morning.

Horse Racing Notes

According to Mrs. Jerry Moss, Zoonaqua was named in honor of the lone female figure represented on a totem pole they have on property they own in the Pacific Northwest. . . . Eddie Delahoussaye, Kent Desormeaux, Pat Valenzuela and Gary Stevens each rode two winners Wednesday. . . . Trainer Brian Mayberry said that Hollywood Juvenile winner Altazarr, who is also owned by the Mosses, will make his next start in the seven-furlong Balboa Stakes on Aug. 28.