Midnight Memories makes the grade again in the Zenyatta S. (G2)

For the second time in as many tries, Midnight Memories won a graded stakes, the latest coming on Oct. 2 at Santa Anita when the 3-year-old filly captured the Zenyatta S. (G2) and may have earned herself a trip to the Breeders’ Cup next month at Keeneland.

Midnight Memories came into the Zenyatta off a victory in the Sept. 4 Torrey Pines S. (G3), a race she won gate to wire. That would not be the case Sunday. After breaking awkwardly, she was last of five going into the first turn, but just two lengths from the leader. Turning onto the backstretch, Midnight Memories threaded her way between horses to take a brief lead at the halfway mark.

She lost a bit of ground while three-wide on the final turn and fell back to third. After coming into the homestretch, she quickly re-rallied and hit the front, asserting herself in the final furlong to win by 3 ¼-lengths.

“We have taken our time with her,” said Bob Baffert, who collected his record fifth Zenyatta win. “We have had to be patient with her. She got into a nice rhythm today and when Ramon asked her in the lane, she took off. She is really improving.”

When asked about the Breeders’ Cup, Baffert said, “We’ll think it out. We have a few spots held on the plane. We just have to figure out who’s going to fill those spots.”

Midnight Memories has won four of five starts and earned $286,680. She races in the colors of her breeders Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.