Summer Bird Chasing Female Foes for HOY

Zenyatta Equals Personal Ensign – Rachel A. and Ventura Beat Boys

Oct 13, 2009

Female Thoroughbreds Zenyatta, or Rachel Alexandra may lay claim to Horse of the Year over Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Summer Bird.

Female Thoroughbreds are more often than not in no-man's land when they saddle up against male counterparts, but the decisions by top owner/breeders and trainers to place their softer gender horses in races with the boys has paid off enough times to stimulate ongoing interest in pairing the best females with the best males of a given season.

Zenyatta Still Pitching for Horse of the Year

Everybody's girl giant favorite, five-year-old Zenyatta, owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by Kentucky Derby-winning conditioner John Shirreffs, put a significant notch in her stall October 10 at Santa Anita by steamrolling to victory for the 13th straight time. She won the $299,000 Lady's Secret Stakes (G1) in a blur, remaining unbeaten in her career and matching the stellar mark of Personal Ensign, another lady retired undefeated after thirteen trips.

Only one horse in history has left the track undefeated in top level career races. Ribot, a European male, retired unbeaten (1956) with 16 straight triumphs.

Zenyatta's thirteenth was right-on-the-mark appropriate, as Lady's Secret, a Secretariat lady, was voted Horse of the Year in 1986. Although Zenyatta faces formidable opposition in colt Summer Bird and filly Rachel Alexandra for 2009 HOY, she has a strong shot at the title if she returns for a victory in the Breeders' Cup Championships the first week in November. She also competed for HOY honors last season, finishing second in the voting to four-year-old colt Curlin.

Short Pedigrees of Rachel, Zenyatta, Ventura, Summer Bird

Rachel A. Strong Candidate for 2009 HOY

Sensational three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra, and five-year-old female Ventura, swept through challenges from males this year in four prestigious grade one races, the Preakness Stakes, the Haskell Invitational Stakes, the Woodward Stakes -- all Rachel A. -- and the (Canadian) Woodbine Mile -- Ventura, becoming a female victor in all those events except for the Preakness for the first time in history.

While powerhouse Zenyatta has been highly successful on synthetic surfaces, her connections steadfastly have held out when it comes to pitting the accomplished mare against boys. The Breeders' Cup will be run on Santa Anita's synthetic track for the second straight year.

Who Summer Bird Might Meet in Breeders' Cup

Stallion Birdstone, 2004's stunning victor in the Belmont Stakes over popular favorite Smarty Jones, gifted the 2009 Thoroughbred season with two outstanding sons, Canadian two-year-old champion Mine That Bird, who whisked to triumph in the Kentucky Derby, and Summer Bird, winner of this season's Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Tim A. Rice trains Summer Bird for owner/breeders Dr. K. K. and Dr. V. Devi Jayaraman of Kentucky.

Summer Bird is pointed to the Breeders' Cup Championships, where it's possible he could run against Zenyatta, who might jump to the BC Classic, but where he won't meet up with Rachel A., who will not be risked on synthetics by majority owner Jess Jackson.

Santa Anita Snythetics Turns Jackson Off

Rachel Alexandra's connections, trainer Steve Asmussen and Jackson are completely open to running their star against boys, but raise a red flag when it comes to competing on synthetics.

Jackson insists he won't enter Rachel A. in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita for one reason: the Santa Anita track was restored last season with Pro-Ride, a synthetic. Jackson was unsuccessful in the 2008 BC with tough Curlin, as that eventual two-time HOY seemed unsuited to run (for the first time) on synthetics.

Ventura won the Breeders' Cup inaugural running of the Filly & Mare Sprint last year. Her connections, Juddmonte Farms of Kentucky, and Hall of Fame trainer Robert "Bobby" J. Frankel, like Ventura's chances to repeat in November.

The Breeders' Cup Championships are scheduled for November 6 (ladies) and November 7 (gents).

The copyright of the article Summer Bird Chasing Female Foes for HOY in Thoroughbred Racing is owned by BarbaraAnne Helberg. Permission to republish Summer Bird Chasing Female Foes for HOY in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.