With the spotlight fixed firmly on Preakness 150 day at Pimlico Race Course, it was Zeitlos who quietly stole a portion of that limelight with a performance full of class and precision in the $125,000 Skipat Stakes. Making her first start of the season, the accomplished mare returned to action in impressive fashion, showing she hasn’t lost a step since her last outing in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
Under the expert guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Zeitlos was strategically placed by jockey Jose Ortiz, who judged the race to perfection. She began the six-furlong sprint conservatively, sitting just off the early pace set by a longshot leader. As the field approached the far turn, the five-year-old daughter of Curlin began to gain ground with purpose.
Approaching the final furlong, Zeitlos displayed a turn of foot that left her competitors scrambling. Seizing control from Striker Has Dial, she surged forward with authority to clinch the win by a length and a half. Clocking in at 1:11.20 on a fast track, her performance was a testament to her readiness despite a significant layoff.
Ortiz later revealed that the mare’s early positioning came as a surprise, but it worked perfectly in her favor. With a calm, unrushed ride, Zeitlos responded effortlessly when it mattered most. Asmussen, not new to Skipat success, praised her maturity and hinted at a long-term target: another trip to the Breeders’ Cup.
The Skipat field featured some stiff competition, including the well-favored One Magic Filly, who closed strongly but had to settle for third. Defending titleholder Apple Picker never found her stride, while runner-up Striker Has Dial gamely held her place behind the winner.
Zeitlos now boasts nine wins from 18 career starts and over a million dollars in earnings, further solidifying her reputation among the top female sprinters in the country. Her latest triumph, coming in the midst of a high-profile race card, reaffirmed that this Curlin-bred mare still has more to give in 2025.
