Zenyatta Continues Undefeated

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Some copy from brisnet.com

Zenyatta, whose only career venture outside of California came in her 2008 win in the Apple Blossom Handicap, achieved an historic moment on Saturday afternoon when she won her thirteenth straight race by takingthe Lady's Secret Handicap before an appreciative crowd at Santa Anita.

The John Shirreffs trainee delivered the much-anticipated score, which now puts her on par with the great Personal Ensign, who accomplished the feat when ending her career in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff. With win number 13 now firmly engraved on her record, Zenyatta has banked $2,774,580 in earnings to go along with her seven Grade 1 triumphs.

"Thirteen in a row...Personal Ensign, I mean, it's historic," Shirreffs stated after the race. "It's a once in a lifetime horse, believe me. You don't see Zenyattas. They come so seldom, it's unbelievable that she's here, in Los Angeles, at Santa Anita, and it's a blessing, really.

"She ran her race. That's Zenyatta. She does whatever is necessary. I'm like everybody else. I love to watch her. She's like a ship when she's coming down the stretch. You hardly ever see any horses inside of her because she takes up so much of the picture you're looking at."

"Personally, to be in the same ledger as (Personal Ensign) is, it's just awesome," Jerry Moss said.

Briecat attempted to steal this one on the front end, setting fractions of :25, :49 2/5, 1:12 4/5 and 1:36 3/5 while closely tracked by Made for Magic. Jockey Mike Smith, in the meantime, had Zenyatta in her customary spot at the back of the field, but closer to the pace than her last race. The massive mare began her ground-skimming rally nearing the final turn while wide, and Smith attempted to save some ground by angling her in a bit. However, he found the way blocked, and sent her around rivals once again. Zenyatta drew clear to score by 1 1/4 lengths on the wire, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 4/5.

"Ability-wise, she can run with anyone, anytime, anywhere," Smith was full of praise for his star mount. "She has an amazing turn of foot -- one that I've never seen before. No disrespect to the other horses today, but she only ran about four jumps when we turned for home and then she shut it down. I knew the pace was slow and going to the far turn, everybody has to get into some kind of position. I just have so much confidence in her and today, she had 10 gears and she only had to use four of them. She really loves this track over here."

"She hadn't even started yet (going in to the last turn)," Moss said. "She just does it every time that's really saying something for any horse. She seems to do it every time. They came up with one or two moves and she's gone. I haven't seen any other horse do it like that. And then her stride just goes and everybody else seems to be running like a rabbit. We're so proud and humble to have her.

"I didn't sleep last night, this time it got me in the sleep department. Just seeing her in the paddock she just looked great, amazing."

Sent off the heavy 2-5 favorite in the seven-horse field, the talented mare paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10.