FIRST LADY STAKES

(GRADE 1)

MIKE and Hilary Pridham hadn’t seen Zipessa since she left Fair Hill Training Center and arrived at Keeneland to prep for the Grade 1 First Lady.

It had been a week, 10 days, tops. When the trainer and assistant arrived at Keeneland to see their five-year-old mare, they looked at each other and cackled.

“We looked at each other and were like, ‘Wow, we’re all right here,’” Stidham said. “She just blossomed, her coat looked great, she gained weight. I don’t know why, but she was thriving.”

Zipessa’s looks held up as she reeled in Irish-bred Hawksmoor to upset the Grade 1 turf stakes. Owned by Empyrean Stable and ridden by Joe Bravo, the five-year-old daughter of City Zip snapped an eight-race losing streak.

A losing streak in name only as she finished third in the Grade 1 Beverly D, second in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive and lost photos in two Grade 3 stakes forays.

“It was frustrating because she ran so hard each time,” Stidham said.

“She deserved this.

“She definitely deserved this.”