Vinery’s champion freshman Congrats sired his first Group 1 winner for 2011 when Turbulent Descent held off late closer Zazu (Tapit) in the Santa Anita Oaks on Saturday.  A Z Warrior (Bernardini) was five lengths away in third spot.

Turbulent Descent (3f Congrats – Roger’s Sue by Forestry) took command in the straight but was flat to the boards at the finish of the 1700m Californian classic.  Trainer Mike Puype immediately ruled out the Kentucky Oaks (1800m) for the winner.

“I’m afraid she’s so brilliant, 1700 metres is the max,” Puype claimed.  “The Acorn Stakes going a mile at Belmont Park in June will be her summer goal.”

Turbulent Descent cost $160,000 at the Ocala Breeders 2YO Sale in April 2010 and the Santa Anita Oaks boosted her record to 4 wins from 5 starts for earnings of $528,350.  

After winning her maiden on debut at the Oak Tree meeting, Turbulent Descent added the Listed Moccasin Stakes and G1 Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park as a late season juvenile.

Grey filly Zazu defeated her first-up this term in the G1 Las Virgenes Stakes but the rematch saw their roles reversed as Turbulent Descent got the jump on her rival to post a neck victory under jockey David Flores.

Her sire Congrats (A.P. Indy) won the 2010 North American first-season sires’ premiership with 25 individual winners for earnings of $1.66 million.  Vinery transferred him from Florida to its home base in Kentucky for the 2011 current season.