Zenyatta’s looming victory in the Breeder’s Cup this weekend at Churchill Downs will cement her reputation as the greatest horse of all time as it would mark her 20th consecutive racing victory and also a grand finale to an awe inspiring career. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced that Hollywood Park, in conjunction with Oak Tree Racing Association, Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., that a seven-feet-tall, 40-feet-wide “Good Luck, Zenyatta!” banner will be on display at the Inglewood, Calif., racetrack for fans to sign beginning this Saturday. The banner will then be shipped to Louisville, Ky., in advance of the undefeated Zenyatta’s attempt for a 20th career victory in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 6 at Churchill Downs. Zenyatta’s jockey, Mike Smith, will be the first to sign the banner. “We think this is an innovative way for fans to show their support of Zenyatta as she goes for a second consecutive win in the Breeders' Cup Classic,” said Sherwood Chillingworth, Director and Executive Vice President of Oak Tree Racing Association. “We encourage everyone to come to Hollywood Park to sign the banner for this outstanding mare who has brought us all so much excitement.'' “Zenyatta’s unforgettable career has thrilled racing fans on every continent,” said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA. “But California is her home, and this banner will give Zenyatta’s hometown fans the opportunity to personally wish her the best of luck as she continues her incredible quest for perfection.” The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading Thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and Rye Brook, N.Y. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA web site, NTRA.com.
Zenyatta (foaled April 1, 2004 in Kentucky) is an American champion Thoroughbred racehorse, undefeated in her 19 starts — and one of the relatively few undefeated horses in American Thoroughbred racing history. Owned by Jerry Moss and his wife Ann, Zenyatta is trained by John Shirreffs and has been ridden by American "Hall of Fame" jockey Mike Smith for 16 of 19 starts. Jockey David Flores rode Zenyatta in her first three starts. She races in the teal and pink colors of her owners, her groom is Mario Espinoza, she stands 17.2 hands (183 cm) tall and she weighs 1,217 pounds (552 kg). According to a 2010 60 Minutes report, Zenyatta was purchased at the low price of $60,000 because she suffered from a form of ringworm; she has since won purses totaling over $6 million and is noted for overtaking her competition in an intense surge after starting each of her races "lingering languidly" at the rear of the pack. She has been featured in W Magazine, and will end her racing career with the 2010 Breeder's Cup.
Breeding and background Zenyatta was sired by Street Cry, who also sired in the same crop 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, multiple Group 1Australian Weight for Age (WFA) champion Whobegotyou, and 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking. Out of Vertigineux, the mare is half sister to multiple Grade I winner Balance. Her damsire is the outstanding stallion Kris S. She was named for Zenyattà Mondatta, by The Police, who were signed to A&M records by Zenyatta's owner, Jerry Moss. Zenyatta was purchased as a yearling by Jerry and Ann Moss for $60,000 at the Keeneland Sales in September 2005.
Win overviewZenyatta has won 17 Graded stakes races including 13 Grade I events and has defeated 4 Champions of 7 different awards: Gio Ponti(2009 Older Horse and Turf Champion), Sealy Hill (2007 Canadian Horse of the Year, Champion 3 Year old filly and Champion female turf horse), Summer Bird (2009 Champion 3 Year old),Ginger Punch(2007 Champion older female). She has defeated previous Grade/Group I winners including Multiple Group I stakes winner European Twice Over; Santa Anita Derby, Travers Stakes winner Colonel John; 2009, 2010 Pacific Classic Stakes and Goodwood Stakes winner Richard's Kid; 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird; Multiple Group I winner, European Rip Van Winkle; Hollywood Gold Cupwinner, Awesome Gem; Santa Anita Handicap winner, Einstein; and Vosburgh Stakes winner Girolamo. Zenyatta has also defeated Grade 1 winning females, Hystericalady, Life Is Sweet, Tough Tiz's Sis, Romance Is Diane, Double Trouble, Cocoa Beach, Santa Teresita, Carriage Trail, and Music Note.
Early careerZenyatta did not begin her legendary racing career until the latter half of her 3 year old season. On November 22, 2007, Zenyatta made her first lifetime start and defeated eleven opponents. She broke her maiden going 6½ furlongs at Hollywood Park and stopped the tele-timer in a swift 1:15.22. She was ridden byDavid Flores and won by 3 lengths. On December 15, 2007, Zenyatta won an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park in a running time of 1:40.97. She was ridden by David Flores and won by 3½ lengths. 2008 Season On January 14, 2008, Zenyatta stopped the tele-timer in 1:40.61 and broke the stakes record in the 1 1/16 miles Grade 2 El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita. She was ridden by David Flores and won by 3/4 of a length. On April 5, 2008, Zenyatta defeated the reigning 2007 Eclipse champion "Ginger Punch" and won the Grade 1Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. This marked the first Grade 1 victory for Zenyatta. She romped by 4½ lengths and completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.64. On May 31, 2008, Zenyatta won the Grade 2 Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park and completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.17. She was ridden by Mike Smith and won by 2½ lengths. On July 5, 2008, Zenyatta won the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park and completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.51. She was ridden by Mike Smith and won by a ½ length. On August 2, 2008, Zenyatta set a track record of 1:41.48 for 1 1/16 miles and won the Grade 2 Clement L. Hirschat Del Mar. She was ridden by Mike Smith and won by 1 length. On September 27, 2008, Zenyatta won the Grade 1 Lady's Secret Stakes at Santa Anita Park, and in that race, she ran each quarter faster than the one before. Her splits were :24 4/5, :23 4/5, :23 1/5, :22 3/5, and a final sixteenth in :06 flat. She finished the 1 mile and 1/16 in 1:40.30. She was ridden by Mike Smith and won by 2½ lengths. On October 24, 2008, Zenyatta was sent off as the 1-2 favorite for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic atSanta Anita Park. Zenyatta ran the second fastest Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in Breeders Cup history and stopped the tele-timer in 1:46.85 for 1 1/8 miles. She posted a 1½ length victory over Cocoa Beach and was ridden by Mike Smith. 2009 season On January 26, 2009, Zenyatta won The Eclipse Award for top Older Female of the 2008 season. She was voted runner-up to 2008 Horse of the Year Curlin. On May 23, 2009 Zenyatta made her much anticipated appearance, winning the Grade 2 Milady Handicap atHollywood Park on May 23, 2009 while carrying 126 pounds. In that race, she defeated her highly-touted Grade I-winning stablemate Life Is Sweet. She finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.30 and was ridden by Mike Smith. On June 27, 2009, Zenyatta won the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park for the second straight year. She carried 129 pounds, spotting her rivals from 13 to 18 pounds, and became the first horse to win under such a weight assignment since 1977. She was ridden by Mike Smith. In 2008, she won the Vanity under 126 pounds. On August 9, 2009, Zenyatta won the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar. Zenyatta circled the entire field (six wide) behind a slow pace and won by a head. She finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.24 and was ridden byMike Smith. On October 10, 2009, Zenyatta won the Lady's Secret in her typical come-from-behind fashion. She was ridden byMike Smith and won by 1 and 1/4 lengths. On October 28, 2009 it was announced that she would take on the colts in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. No filly or mare had ever won the Classic since its inception in 1984. On November 7, 2009, Zenyatta became the first female to win the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic and the first horse ever to win two different Breeders' Cup races, improving her winning record to 14 out of 14. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, she triumphed in a field of 12 horses including 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and 2009 Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird. She finished the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.62 and surpassed the 2002 "Horse of the Year" Azeri in All-time North American female earnings. Azeri who retired in 2004 accumulated earnings in excess of $4,079,820. On November 24, 2009, the Oak Tree Association announced the renaming of the Grade 1 Lady's Secret Stakes, after the unbeaten champion. Zenyatta was the runner-up to tennis player Serena Williams in the voting for the 2009 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. On December 26, 2009, opening day of the 75th year of Santa Anita meet, Zenyatta bid farewell to her admirers with a jog around the grandstand and her patented dance moves in what at the time looked to be the final parade of her horse racing career. 2010 seasonOn January 16, 2010, it was announced that Zenyatta would not be retired, and would race during the 2010 season. On January 18, 2010, Zenyatta won The Eclipse Award for top Older Female of the 2009 season. She was voted runner-up to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Early in 2010, it was announced that Zenyatta would finally meet Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, who had not raced since winning the Woodward on September 5, on the track in the Apple Blossom Invitational on April 9 at Oaklawn Park and would not race in the Dubai World Cup. The Apple Blossom Handicap was changed to an invitational for this renewal of the race. There was also talk about having a series of three races over the 2010 racing season in which Zenyatta and Rachel would meet, almost like a Triple Crown revolving around the two horses. However, the day after Rachel Alexandra lost the Grade III New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans on March 13 to Zenyatta's stablemate Zardana, her connections announced that she would not run in the Apple Blossom Invitational. On March 13, 2010, Zenyatta weaved through traffic to capture her 15th straight victory in the Grade 1 $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita Park. She was assigned 127 pounds and spotting her 7 rivals from 11 to 16 pounds, and was last, as usual, in the eight-horse field before beginning her late charge. She completed the 1 1/8 miles on Pro-Ride in 1:48.20. She was again ridden by Mike Smith. On April 9, 2010, Zenyatta romped in the Grade I $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park and increased her undefeated record to 16-0. With the win, Zenyatta tied Cigar, Citation, Ormonde, and Ribot for consecutive victories. She completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.71 and was ridden by Mike Smith under 123 lbs, and won by 4 1/4 lengths. On June 13, 2010, Zenyatta captured her 17th victory in a row and won the Grade I $250,000 Vanity Invitation Handicap at Hollywood Park. She was ridden by Mike Smith and carried 129 lbs, spotting her five rivals 9 to 17 pounds. She completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.01. Zenyatta's 17th win broke the record for consecutive victories by a modern Thoroughbred (previously held by Cigar, Citation, Ormonde, and Ribot). Zenyatta also tied the world record (set by Rock of Gibraltar) for consecutive Grade/Group I victories. On August 7, 2010, Zenyatta broke the world record (set by Rock of Gibraltar) for consecutive Grade/Group I victories. She won her eighth consecutive Grade/Group I victory and increased her undefeated record to 18-0. Zenyatta (who carried 123 lbs) won her third Clement L. Hirsch Handicap and was ridden by Mike Smith. She finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.03. Zenyatta's 18th win tied the legendary Eclipse for consecutive victories without defeat. With this win, Zenyatta captured her twelfth Grade/Group I race and tied the All-time North American record (set by two-time champion Bayakoa) for Grade/Group I victories by a filly/mare. On October 2, 2010, Zenyatta broke the All-time North American record (set by two-time champion Bayakoa) for Grade/Group I victories by a filly/mare. She won her thirteenth Grade/Group I race and ran her unbeaten streak to 19-0. Zenyatta also tied the All-time North American record for consecutive victories without defeat (List of Undefeated Thoroughbreds) and won her ninth consecutive Grade/Group I victory. Zenyatta also broke the All-time North American female earnings record (formerly held by Ouija Board, who retired in 2006 with earnings in excess of $6,312,552). Zenyatta (who carried 123 lbs) won her third Lady's Secret Stakes by a half length over Hollywood Oaks winner Switch and was ridden by Mike Smith. She finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.97 and pushed her total career earnings to $6,404,580. Zenyatta's next and final race will be the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 6 at Churchill Downs.
Her previous 19 victories includeLady's Secret StakesClement L. Hirsch Handicap
Vanity Invitational Handicap
Apple Blossom Invitational Handicap
Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap
Breeders' Cup Classic
Lady's Secret Stakes
Clement L. Hirsch Stakes
Vanity Handicap
Milady Handicap
Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic
Lady's Secret Stakes
Clement L. Hirsch Handicap
Vanity Handicap
Milady Handicap
Apple Blossom Handicap
El Encino Stakes
Allowance
Maiden
This is also your opportunity to show your support of Zenyatta’s 20/20 victory by posting your wishes below and being part of the legacy which will be celebrated for years to come.
The RaceClubs.com Team
Information sourced from The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) & Wikipedia.com
Friday, November 5, 2010
Does Zenyatta's Vision Include 20/20 Victories This Weekend?
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