Contributing Takes Down Pan Zareta Stakes

A horse making a first start for a trainer can come with some question marks, but trainer Brad Cox got all the right answers Jan. 5 as his pair of new acquisitions ran 1-2 in the $75,000 Pan Zareta Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. When the blades of grass settled, Heider Family Stables' Contributing scored a head decision over Goldberry for the track's two-time defending training champion.

Guided by jockey Joe Bravo, the 5-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro  was placed on the rail and sat well off the pace led by Brielle's Appeal, who laid down opening fractions of :21.93 and :46.15. At the top of the stretch, Contributing began weaving her way through traffic and drifted out toward the center of the track, then made a winning move at the sixteenth pole. Duking out the last half furlong with stablemate and favorite Goldberry, Contributing got her head down on the wire first and stopped the timer in 1:03.85. Excessivespending, who had the lead at the top of the stretch, finished third.

"Brad was real confident and said that she was training real well," Bravo said. "She acted well the entire time. She was just confident and relaxed. When we turned for home, she split horses nicely and got up underneath us."

Cox reiterated such confident sentiments following the race.

"They both worked extremely well last week," Cox said. "They actually worked together. She ran extremely well. Joe did a good job of just letting the speed duke it out up front and save the ground to get her a clean run down the lane. She responded really well."

Goldberry did not receive the best of trips, stumbling out of the gate and racing last throughout the first portion of the race. 

"Goldberry ran a tremendous race," Cox said. "She stumbled leaving the gate and was kind of taken out of her game in last going into the turn. Obviously, we just inherited that. On paper, that's not how she wants to run. It was just bad racing luck on her part, but she made a huge run down the center of the track. I'm real pleased with her effort. I think the longer we have her, the better she can get."

Cox indicated that the $75,000 Mardi Gras Stakes March 5 could be the next start for both Contributing and Goldberry.

The Pan Zareta score brought Contributing's career earnings to $147,540. The Pan Zareta was her first stakes victory. She was stakes-placed on two occasions, including a runner-up finish in last year's Pan Zareta.

Contributing paid $22.40, $8.80 and $5.40. Goldberry returned $3.80 and $3.00. Excessivespending brought $5.60. 

Bred in Kentucky by Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, Contributing is out of the Halo mare Taegu. She is a half sister to two-time graded stakes winner Classic Elegance as well as El Fasto, the dam of 2012 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Believe You Can. She was purchased for $220,000 from the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Gainesway.