It's cold in Kentucky, so here's some fuel for the fire

Plenty of news sources of late, including most notably Daily Racing Form, have speculated that Zenyatta is more "in training" than "retired" since she has worked three times in the past five weeks pretty much at two-week intervals since returning to the worktab on December 7 at Hollywood Park. That first work was more than one month after her scintillating victory against males in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.

Jerry Moss, who co-owns the undefeated champion mare and Horse of the Year finalist with his wife Ann, responded to an e-mail message from me at 7:30 p.m. EST on Friday saying, "John generally works ZENYATTA [emphasis his] a half every couple of weeks."

I had asked Mr. Moss if he would "be willing to supply a statement regarding her current status and/or [comment on] if there is any chance she will run in 2010."

Moss did not address "her current status" or whether "she will run in 2010," only offering his comment about trainer John Shirreffs workout regimen and noting, "it's cold in Kentucky" where Zenyatta will presumably reside when she begins her career as a broodmare.

The possibility that Zenyatta could return for a six-year-old season is exciting on a number of levels, and regardless of what else happens in 2010 would likely easily rank as the gutsiest move by any owner in this calendar year. I wrote that Jackson was gutsiest in 2009, and a Zenyatta encore in '10 would up that ante considerably.

Going hand in hand with whether Zenyatta will race again is where she would race if she does. The two very logical targets would be either the $10-million Dubai World Cup on March 27 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai or the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas (two places a world apart in every sense of the phrase).

The Dubai World Cup provides obvious financial incentive with the kicker of facing some of the best horses in the world for a purse that would make her the all-time leading North American-based money earner as well put her within striking range of Vodka as Thoroughbred racing's all-time leading female earner (Vodka could also contest the Dubai World Cup).

As exciting as a Zenyatta-Vodka cocktail would be, the matchup most people would clamor for is Zenyatta-Rachel Alexandra, a battle that many (including me) have already fought on paper, online, and at the water cooler in terms of deciding who deserves to be 2009 Horse of the Year. The online battles have been fun, but having the horses instead of Turf writers and racing secretaries decide that war would be fine with me.

Of course, it would likely take more than a $500,000 purse to make that happen, not only because you would want to ensure the participation of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta but also because you'd want other horses to show up, too. A $1-million purse makes third place worth $100,000, and that's decent, but then the winner only gets $600,000 with second settling for $200,000. I don't know the Cella family's financial situation, but I'd make the purse at least $2-million and add incentives based on field size.

Terry Wallace, Oaklawn's director of communications, said Thursday afternoon that he is not aware of any discussions between the Horse of the Year finalists' connections and the Cella family.

"We're not aware of anything at this point, but we'd be happy to make that happen at Oaklawn, and I can't imagine a better place, since both have won over this track and it, thus, becomes neutral ground," Wallace said, adding that Oaklawn owner Charles Cella often keeps his marketing ideas close to the vest. "I'll be the first to admit that Charles Cella never makes me aware of any secretive events he may have up his sleeve. As an example, he took me by surprise in 2004 when he campe up with the $5-million bonus" for sweeping the Rebel, Arkansas Derby, and Kentucky Derby.

So will she or won't she? Moss not addressing her status tells me there's a chance she could race again. I don't take it to mean she's in training for a race necessarily, but it's a lot easier to point her toward that goal from Shirreffs' Hollywood barn than from a farm in Kentucky.

It's been fun to wonder what if, and the thought of Zenyatta taking on Vodka and/or Rachel Alexandra this year is a moderate cure for the winter blues.