More perfecter?
Turf writers are running out of superlatives to describe Zenyatta, who stretched her unbeaten streak to 16 with a 4 1/4-length victory in the Apple Blossom Invitational Handicap (G1) on April 9 at Oaklawn Park. It was the Street Cry mare’s largest margin of victory since winning the 2008 Apple Blossom over champion Ginger Punch. Zenyatta's widest margins of victory have come on dirt.
The win was good enough to secure her place as Thoroughbred Times TODAY Horse of the Week, and Claire Novak of ESPN already has dubbed her Horse of the Century. It seems the only accolade she has yet to earn is Horse of the Year, but owner Jerry Moss clearly has that title in his sites.
Zenyatta returned to Southern California two days after her victory, which as her 16th straight equaled "modern" North American marks set by Cigar, Citation, Hallowed Dreams, and Mister Frisky. Pepper’s Pride retired undefeated after 19 consecutive victories from 2005-’08 while racing exclusively in New Mexico.
In plotting a course for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on November 6 at Churchill Downs, it is possible that a repeat victory in North America’s richest race could send Zenyatta to the breeding shed undefeated in 20 career starts, but Moss would probably rather see the Horse of the Year statue on his mantle than have 20/20 vision, although achieving the latter almost certainly would lead to the former.
Trainer John Shirreffs has mentioned the Vanity Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Stephen Foster Handicap as potential targets for Zenyatta’s next race. Moss said he prefers Grade 1 races at 1 1/8 miles. Zenyatta would face males in either the Gold Cup or Stephen Foster and likely carry at least 130 pounds against females in the Vanity. The Gold Cup is 1 1/4 miles while the other two are 1 1/8 miles.
Zenyatta has never raced at Churchill, and the Louisville track’s spring-summer meeting would be the champion’s only opportunity to do so before the Breeders’ Cup, so my money is on her racing at Churchill.
If they follow the same path to the Breeders' Cup as last year, then I could see a Del Mar appearance followed by using the Spinster at Keeneland as her final Breeders' Cup prep.
That takes New York racing out of the picture, but I just don't see them going away from the schedule they had last year, so it's either NY or Del Mar, and I kind of get the sense her connections will want to give her one more spin in SoCal. NY could be an option instead of Keeneland, but then she's shipping twice versus just one trip to Kentucky.
So, Stephen Foster-Clement Hirsch-Spinster-BC Classic is my guess on her last four races, meaning the only chance we'll see her against Rachel Alexandra is the Classic unless Rachel Alexandra's connections get real brave and try the Stephen Foster following what I think will be a start in the La Troienne on Oaks day.
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If Zenyatta tries the Stephen Foster, I will be camping out in front of Churchill Downs several days in advance.
ReplyDeleteAny chance they'd be bold enough to try Zenyatta in her newly-minted namesake race?
Excellent point, Joe.
ReplyDeleteCould Zenyatta become the first horse to win his/her namesake race? Any historians out there want to tackle that one?
It was the Street Cry mare’s largest margin of victory since winning the 2008 Apple Blossom over champion Ginger Punch.
ReplyDelete___________
A correction if I may:
It was the Street Cry mare’s largest margin of victory since winning the 2008 Apple Blossom over Grade 3 type Brownie Points, who was the runnerup that day.
Champion Ginger Punch bounced in her second start of the year and did not put forth her typical championship effort.
She demolished Ginger Punch in the Classic-she has never been beaten and she is in her 3rd year of racing. Maybe because she isn't allowed to burn herself up. If you have any doubts she could win by more then you don't see too well. Who has Rachel beaten that Zenyatta didn't?? The two in the Mother Goose maybe? 65th ranked in the world and giving her 8 pounds Macho Again who hadn't won in about a year?? Course Zenyatta beat Gio Ponti ranked 6th or 6th in the world and winner of two eclipses. Rachel got beat by a horse that had won one grade two several months ago and none others had won a grade two even and Zardana got her clock cleaned by St. Trinians. Impressive! Syn specialist is probably the next excuse--don't know if you noticed but the California shippers are kicking butt---even to the Ashland, the Fantasy, the Rebel, Arkansas Derby, Illinois Derby-beating those dirt only specialists
ReplyDeleteEd,
ReplyDeleteIt already happened at Mount Pleasant Meadows, my good man. Arabian standout Nassem De Blaziet won the Nassem De Blaziet Arabian Michigan Sprint Stakes at MPM on June 21, 2008. He won by 2 3/4 lengths in a front-running effort.
The chart: http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?BORP=P&STYLE=EQB&DAY=D&tid=MPM&dt=06/21/2008&ctry=USA&race=6
I am not sure what you were refering to with the length of victory. Horses do not need to prove that a 12 length victory makes them a super horse. All you need to do is win. You can see Smith wraps up on her once she is in the lead. No sense in abusing her especially when you have a BC race in your sites. The races where she spoted fields, no one in their right mind would want to see her be whipped into winning by 10 lengths just to please gamblers.
ReplyDeleteThis horse has spotted the field 12-19 pounds. NO matter who she ran against, that is a good chunk of weight. It would help anyone's chances if she stubbed her toe. Personal Ensign spotted her rival Winning Colors 4lbs in the BC. That 4 pounds besides a track she was spinning on could have cost her a first loss. Not sure what else people want of her.
I only mentioned Rachel Alexandra in passing in the last paragraph, so I'm not sure why anon(s) felt the need to reheat the RA-Zen skillet, but there you have it.
ReplyDeleteMargin of victory is an interesting stat. I think it's easier for horses who race near the pace to tally up a big margin than it is for closers (e.g. Zenyatta), so I definitely wasn't trying to intimate that Zenyatta should be winning by more.
In fact, the idea that "all you need to do is win" has been my treatise for a long, long time. The race is to the wire. I don't care who galloped out stronger or if you win by 20 or win by a nose. The goal is to win, which is why what Zenyatta has accomplished (perfect record) is so incredible.
Having said all that, isn't Secretariat's 31-length Belmont margin one of horse racing's most recognizable stats akin to Dimaggio's 56 in baseball?