Susan Moore and M and M Thoroughbreds’ Zaftig pressured favor Indian Blessing throughout the race and finally took control for a 4 ½-length victory in Saturday’s 78th running of the Grade 1, $2237,500 Acorn, presented by Vitaminwater.

A daughter of Gone West, Zaftig made her fifth career start her most impressive by hounding Indian Blessing, last year’s juvenile filly champion, through splits of 22.85, 45.34 and 1:09.68.

The hot weather took its toll on the speedy Indian Blessing, and when jockey John Velazquez took aim with Zaftig, she simply glided home a winner in 1:34.50, even though Velazquez lost his whip earlier.

“Every time the filly tried to sprint away from her, we were right on her again,” said winning trainer Jimmy Jerkens, whose charge returned $7.50. “She set fractions, but we weren’t far behind. I thought it might be telling on us, too. I think she can go farther. There are a lot of great races for three-year-old fillies out there.”

Added Velazquez: “She stumbled a bit coming out of the gate. I wanted to be close. She took me to a nice place where I wanted to be and we put pressure on Indian Blessing. I was pretty confident. I shook my hands and showed her the way. She did it pretty easily.”

For Indian Blessing’s trainer, Bob Baffert, there was no shame in a second-place finish in this prestigious race.

“She’s just so fast,” he said. “She got beat by a nice filly. You hate to lose, but she ran her race. I thought I had her relaxed enough, so she would kick on. But she won’t do that. She’s like `Point me in the right direction and I’ll give it to you.’ You can’t be mad at her for what she’s done. We’re disappointed, but we’re not disgusted.”

Game Face and Golden Doc A completed the order of finish.

Dance Gal Dance was scratched.