Zenyatta Remains Unbeaten In Five
17-Hand Lady Wins Milady Handicap for Trainer Shirreffs, Owners Moss
Tall, lanky Zenyatta, a musical namesake, captured the Milady Handicap May 31 to keep her season's record perfect. John Shirreffs trains her for Jerry and Ann Moss.
While the Thoroughbred industry remains under scrutiny, trainer John Shirreffs retains his same old habit of conditioning a race horse to compete at a high level, such as his four-year-old charge Zenyatta, who scored in the $183,300 Milady, grade II, at Hollywood Park.
The Mosses are The Police fans, having last seen them perform recently at the Hollywood Bowl, and they name their horses accordingly. Zenyatta and another of their fillies, Mondatta, are named after The Police's third album. Giacomo, 2005 Kentucky Derby champion, is named for the band member, Sting's, son.
Jerry Moss has earned a lifetime achievement award in the music industry as an executive. The award was presented in 2006 by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Conditioning Always Important
A number of times, Shirreffs has scratched Zenyatta, or not entered her in a race she was training for if bad weather prohibited workouts for which she was scheduled. Shirreffs' careful attention to conditioning has not wavered under the industry's troublesome times, since the death of filly Eight Belles following the Kentucky Derby. Everything from whip abuse to weak breeding has been blamed for Eight Belles inexplicable collapse. She broke both front ankles while galloping out after placing second in the race behind Big Brown.
The Mosses expound on Shirreffs' attention to detail. He races Zenyatta when everything for the filly is as perfectly in place as possible, they claim.
Unbeaten Scaring Off Compeition
Jockey Mike Smith has ridden the Mosses horses to numerous victories. He brought Zenyatta home in the 1-1/16 miles Milady against four rivals. Three other entrants were scratched before post time. If Shirreffs' plan to run Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup World Championships in October plays out, the race may be without some of the season's noted competition. Zenyatta's 17-hand presence seems to be scaring off her opponents.
Romance Is Diane led the Milady, while Smith coasted with Zenyatta until the final turn. The long, dark bay (or brown) filly stretched out willingly and ran past Santa Teresita in time of 1:41.17. Santa Teresita finished second, 5-1/4 lengths ahead of Kris' Sis.
Previous and Oncoming Races
Zenyatta had previously gobbled up her rivals in the El Encino Stakes, grade II, at Santa Anita and in the Apple Blossom Handicap, grade I, at Arkansas' Oaklawn Park. She is next pointed to the Vanity Handicap July 5 at Hollywood Park, and will be trained up to the Breeders' Cup Distaff, grade I, for a trip against the world's best Thoroughbred ladies.
The lanky lady is a daughter of Street Cry and Vertigineux, by Kris S. Street Cry fathered Street Sense, 2007 Kentucky Derby champion.
