Zenyatta A Perfect Ten Chasing Immortals
Gargantuan Mare Won Milady Handicap To Stay Unbeaten
Jun 21, 2009
The Big Train Zenyatta chewed up the track from behind and outside, as usual, in May's Milady Handicap (G2) for her tenth straight win to remain unbeaten over three seasons.
Originally, Zenyatta was pointed to Churchill Downs for the a big stage day May 1 (same date as the Kentucky Oaks) to run in the Louisville Distaff Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2), but rain soaked the track and trainer John A. Shirreffs withdrew his star. Zenny doesn't like the slop.
With a male sire line like Street Cry (IRE), by Machiavellian, by Mr. Prospector, by Raise a Native, how could a young mare not be unbeaten?
Zenyatta A Perfect Ten
Zenyatta is, indeed, a perfect ten on the race track. She has ten posts, ten wins, $2,234,580 in the bank, and she's still in counting vogue.
The five-year-old daughter of Street Cry--Vertigineux, by Kris S. with Hail to Reason and Princequillo in her maternal house, overtook her five opponents in her 2009 debut in the $150,000 Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park on May 23.
Her ten for ten victory string matches that of the great late Ruffian, who held that mark entering her ill-fated match race in 1975 with Kentucky Derby champion Foolish Pleasure. Filly Personal Ensign retired with a perfect thirteen for thirteen, and male Colin left the track with fifteen wins from fifteen starts.
Zenyatta Named for Band Album Songs
Named for Zenyatta Mondatta, third album of the rock group The Police, Zenyatta dominated the 2008 female racing season, capping it off with a triumph in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. She destroyed that field in an unyielding run from last position to the wire in her customary style.
Zenyatta is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss and regularly ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Zenyatta's Parental Influence
Zenyatta's half-sister Balance, by 1995 Kentucky Derby victor Thunder Gulch, won three grade 1 stakes before her retirement.
Street Cry triumphed through a schedule that included wins in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), the Dubai World Cup (UAE-1), Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 3 (UAE-II), Whitney Handicap (G1), Del Mar Futurity (G2), Norfolk Stakes (G2), Discovery Handicap (G3), Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
In total, Street Cry raced three years, winning five times from twelve starts, and earning $5,150,837. Vertigineux compiled a record of two wins from seven starts in two seasons and earned $60,480.
Zenyatta Is Sixth Two-Time Milady Winner
Zenyatta won the Milady Handicap by 1-3/4 lengths over Life Is Sweet, a stablemate who had been a steady winner on Santa Anita's synthetics while Zenyatta was vacationing. Allicansayis Wow finished 3/4 of a length behind Life Is Sweet.
Five other females have won the Milady Handicap twice and all of them also did it in back-to-back seasons: A Gleam, 1952-1953; Adored, 1984-1985; Bayakoa, 1989-1990; Paseana, 1992-1993; Azeri, 2002-2003.
Will Zenyatta Meet Rachel Alexandra?
Zenyatta may indeed meet up with colt-beater Rachel Alexandra, according to Moss. In answer to interviewers questions about meeting Rachel, Moss said, "Oh, sure, whatever race comes up" that would include the two females in a compatible schedule.
And, where once the Mosses shied away from competitions with males, they now indicate that Zenyatta might be entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic rather than the (formerly Distaff) Ladies Classic.
Presently, the next stop for Zenyatta is June 27 in the Vanity Handicap (G1) at Hollywood Park.
