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America's New Turf Star
Paddy O'Prado USA (El Prado IRE), the likeable grey colt who had a good chance in the Kentucky Derby if only the ground was muddy, found his specialty -Turf.
He was third in the Kentucky Derby to Super Saver and never came into his own on Dirt.
Saturday, he was the favourite in a field of seven three-year olds competing in the Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in New Kent, VA, after winning two graded Turf races: the Palm Beach and Colonial Cups.
He easily defeated Interactif after shooting through a rail opening in the 1-1/4 mile race winning by 1-1/2 lengths.
Trainer Dale Romans said "I couldn't think of taking him off it (grass) for now."
He will next race August 21 in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard at Arlington Park.
Gio Ponti now has a three-year-old competitor who, hopefully, will be campaigned internationally.
Gio Ponti Is Back
Gio Ponti USA (Tale Of The Cat USA) won his first race of 2010 in the Grade 1 $600,000 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park.
The 1-3/8m race was run on firm Turf.
He turned around his losses from the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (second to Zenyatta) and fourth in the Dubai World Cup.
Last year, he was a double Eclipse winner as top older male at five and top grass horse.
His next race could be the Arlington Million or the Pacific Classic.
Rachel's Back
Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson announced that she would reappear in the ungraded Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park July 24.
Putting her into an ungraded race at the start of the Saratoga season has set off controversy, but one cannot blame Jackson for accepting Monmouth's offer to raise the purse from $150,000 to $400,000 if she would appear.
Seems firm, but you never know with Jackson.
Awesome Gem Won His First Grade 1
It took Awesome Gem USA (Awesome Again USA) 36 starts to win a Grade 1 at seven years.
He beat defending champion Rail Trip USA (Jump Start USA) in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, 1-1/4m.
Rail Trip had won the two 9f Hollywood Park prep races and was favourite.
AG's jockey David Flores said his horse was behind in traffic until he found an opening. "That was the most beautiful thing, when you have a horse that can accelerate like that at any time."
Mine That Bird Flops In Comeback
Mine That Bird (Birdstone USA) placed eighth in the July 4 $175,000 Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap on Churchill Downs' closing day - one place back for every month he took off from racing.
The four-year-old gelding made his debut on grass at a mile which was possibly too short a distance for him.
Some critics felt that jockey Calvin Borel left the closing too late.
The race was considered a prep by connections for the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga August 7 where he may meet Quality Road and Blame.
MTB For Firecracker Handicap July 4
Mine That Bird (Birdstone USA) will go racing after an eight-month layoff in the July 4 $175,000 Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap on closing day at Churchill Downs.
The four-year-old gelding's participation has stirred a major 'buzz' for the last day of the April-July Churchill racetrack season.
It will be his first time on Turf and races a mile which could be too short a distance for him.
Connections are not too worried if he loses as they see it as a prep for the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga August 7.
Since his return in a Conditions race was cancelled, one hopes enough entries fill out the Firecracker.
Chinchon Won United Nations Stakes
Multi-national Chinchon IRE (Marju IRE) was bred by Zubieta Ltd, is owned by Sarl Darpat France and trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias of France.
For his second visit to the United States, the five-year old ran an awesome first to last to win the Grade1 $750,000 United Nations Stakes, 1-3/8m, by 1-1/2 lengths.
Jockey Garrett Gomez said "He's a beautiful horse that travelled very well."
Chinchon won his first Grade 1 in this race beating a field with five other Grade 1 winners and also won his invitation to the Breeders' Cup Turf race as the United Nations Stakes was one of the "Win And You're In" Challenge races.
Rachel's Return
Rachel Alexandra's owner announced that she would reappear in the ungraded Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park July 24.
Putting her into an ungraded race at the start of the Saratoga season has set off controversy, but one cannot blame the owner Jess Jackson for accepting Monmouth's offer to raise the purse from $150,000 to $400,000 if she would appear.
Seems firm, but you never know with Jackson.
MTB Diverted
Things have not gone as well for Mine That Bird's return as his chosen Conditions race at Churchill Downs was cancelled. There were not enough entries to fill out the race.
Did he scare them off?
Godolphin USA On A Roll
Desert Party USA (Street Cry IRE) returned to action in the United States after surgery and won his race in style.
He raced from first to last to win the $200,000 LeVine Handicap by 3-1/2 lengths at Philadelphia Park for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey David Cohen.
Desert Party won the UAE 2000 Guineas last year and was second to stablemate Regal Ransom in the UAE Derby.
He was considered a hot prospect for the Kentucky Derby, but ran only to 14th - 22 lengths behind winner Mine That Bird USA (Birdstone USA) last May.
Unfortunately, he was injured in the race and required surgery for an ankle chip keeping him from the racetracks until being eased back at four in the Dubai March races.
He has the same Darley sire as Zenyatta and Zaidan.
To cap off the day, Saeed bin Suroor's three-year-old Cappiwino USA (Soto USA) won his third career start in a confidence building 6-1/2 furlong allowance race at Belmont Park.
Rajiv Maragh rode the winner for owner Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al Maktoum who is a son of Sheikh Mohammed.
Zaidan (Zenyatta's Brother) To Kentucky Derby?
Zenyatta's two-year-old half brother Zaidan (centre in white with red stripes) made his move to demolish the field in Royal Ascot's Chesham Stakes by three lengths and may have bought his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. Photo David Hastings
When the stunningly handsome two-year-old colt Zaidan USA (Street Cry IRE) won the 7f Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot by 3 lengths, it was like watching the knock-out punch of his illustrious half-sister Zenyatta.
He has won both his two starts and his internationally savvy trainer Clive Brittain sees the 2011 Kentucky Derby in his future instead of the UK Guineas.
At the moment, he and owner Saeed Manana are not planning a Breeders' Cup campaign in November.
Mine That Bird
I admit it gives me great pleasure to learn that Mine That Bird's new trainer D Wayne Lukas has reunited the four-year-old gelding with jockey Calvin Borel and they are doing very fast fractions over the Churchill Downs track.
MTB may race in the $63,000 Allowance at 1-1/16m at Churchill, the $250,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park - both on July 3 - or the $175,000 Firecracker Handicap at Churchill on July 4.
Whichever race is chosen, it would be a prep for the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on August 7 where MTB could confront Quality Road and Blame.
Lukas has not disguised his enthusiasm for the colt and said "I've got him nominated to everything but the Tokyo Fair."
I suspect MTB could be game for that as well now that he is firing again.
The Best Female
It will come as a shock to the US racegoers that the rest of the world rates five-year-old Goldikova as the best racing female in the world.
She was rated in tie with Rip Van Winkle last year at 133 just below the world leader Sea The Stars at 136.
Though she has won both her races in 2010, I suspect the handicappers will not accept that number as she has not won her 2010 races by thousands of lengths (seeminly their criteria).
This year, she appears to conserve her energy more wisely. She barely blows after her shorter-distance victories and is enjoying herself more.
Believe it. This tail-swishing, elegant mare is deadly.
Words Fail, Zenyatta
Like her arch rival Rachel Alexandra, the experts and public feared Zenyatta USA (Street Cry USA) could not win her latest race - the Grade 1 $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park, 1m1f on All Weather.
Rachel Alexandra raced twice and was second twice this year until her blistering 10-1/2-length victory in Saturday's $214,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs.
Zenyatta is a female phenomenen who had won 16 out of 16 career starts and was racing to best the 16-each total consecutive victories of Triple Crown winner Citation, Cigar, Hallowed Dreams and Mr Frisky.
The six-year-old mare conceded 9lbs all round to five other females in the Vanity which included her stablemate Zardana, who defeated Rachel, and English-bred St Trinians (Piccolo).
Besides carrying 9lbs extra, observers were disturbed that Zenyatta was given easy workouts and only required to sprint briefly at their end.
It was also feared that Zenyatta could lose because of her racing style.
She always races the same way. She lopes along in last position until 2-3 furlongs out from home when she picks up speed. Depending where she is at that moment, she athleticly scythes through or around the oppostion.
Her principal competitor, St Trinians, also is a closer who raced just ahead of Zenyatta. Both mares had seven or more lengths to make up and started moving closer to the leaders as they entered the far turn.
St Trinians reached the front first, displacing the leader Zardana near the rail, and keeping Zenyatta wide.
Zenyatta was always four-to-six horses off the rail racing the farthest distance with her extra weight.
Her jockey Mike Smith seemed to cut his move to first too tightly leaving Zenyatta vulnerable on the outside of gallant St Trinians.
Realising the post was closer than he thought, Smith asked for more and she quickly extended that giant stride of hers with pricked ears winning by a heart-stopping 1/2 length.
Smith admitted that she needed the race and it would make Zenyatta an even tougher rival in her future starts.
Trainer John Shirreffs said he waited for Zenyatta to engage her overdrive with "I've great faith in her. She just finds a way to win - you know, she has this tremendous finishing kick."
The good ones do.
Martin Garcia, St Trinians' jockey, was proud of his mare, but said "The other horse is just too much horse."
And Zenyatta has beaten the record of top North American males in winning her 17th consecutive race most of which are Graded races.
She has never lost a race.
Now all she has to do is match or beat little Peppers Pride's record of 19 consecutive races won (only restricted State-bred events in New Mexico between 2005-08) and to win the Breeders' Cup Classic for the second consecutive year.
Racing insiders have other ideas.
They have returned to the familiar cant of: in which race will Zenyatta meet Rachel Alexandra?
They are proposing either the $750,000 Delaware Handicap on July 17 or the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap at Saratoga on August 1.
They are shying from having the two mega stars meet Quality Road USA (Elusive Quality USA), the impressive four-year-old colt who lost his chance to compete in the Breeders' Cup last year after acting up at the stalls.
He is entered in the Whitney on August 7 and the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Wonder what the odds are for the two divas ever meeting before the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.
As to Zenyatta, we are privileged to share her extraordinary achievements. I hope she wins every race she races and breaks every record that exists "doing it her way".
Rachel Is Back
Reports of her career demise, "running out of gas" and her having "no more excuses" for coming in second when everyone expects her to win every race were clearly put to bed yesterday in the Grade 2 $214,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs, 1-1/8m on Dirt.
Rachel Alexandra USA (Medaglia D'Oro USA) was the old Rachel looking confident, imperious and gorgeous.
Whatever stopped her from challenging the two fillies who headed and defeated her in her first two races of 2010 is no longer an issue.
If she feared going through the pain barrier she faced in her last race of 2009 against colts, she is past it.
Despite Calvin Borel jinking her sharply to the right temporarily costing her momentum as she took the lead, Rachel rebalanced herself and took off for a fast-finish, 10-1/2 lengths' victory over the longshot second Distinctive Dixie USA (Fusaichi Pegasus USA).
She showed a new maturity, precise and natural athletic control, increasing speed and beautiful leg action that reminded me of the great miler mare Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA).
Her even, fast movement no doubt results from her powerful back quarters which are poetry in action.
Welcome back to the Winner's Circle, Rachel. It's where you belong.
Third Leg Of Triple Crown To 13.1 Shot
Despite being described by his jockey Mike Smith as a one-pace horse, Drosselmeyer USA (Distorted Humor USA) relentlessly ran down leader First Dude and outran his old adversary and late closer Fly Down to win the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, 1m4f, June 5.
The handsome chestnut, only placed in two of his first three races (all Grade 2s) in 2010 and fourth in the third, raced off pace on the outside to three fulongs out when he started his long and wide move forward.
Trainer Bill Mott said "He always keeps coming. He circled horses, and kept the momentum going."
Though the race was slow at 2.31.57, it was steady and fair. Every horse had a chance to take out the winner, but none could. He won by 3/4 lengths.
Drosselmeyer, who was one of the Classic season's favourites, took a long time to mature. His tender front feet were clad in bar shoes until race morning when they were changed to racing plates.
Hall of Fame trainer Mott won his first Triple Crown race and Smith, who replaced Kent Desormeaux, won his first Belmont Stakes despite racing regularly at the track.
WinStar Farm, breeder of Drosselmeyer, got a bookend for their Super Saver's Kentucky Derby.
Unfortunately, this year no three-year old was up to even two legs of the Triple Crown thereby reviving arguments that the races are too close together and that horses are not bred to be as strong as their earlier counterparts.
Europeans believe there is too much worldwide inbreeding to the Native Dancer line and that American horses are bred for short bursts of speed instead of stamina.
Drosselmeyer looks to be the exception to the latter. A very nice horse in a pleasingly balanced race.
Proviso Gives Juddmonte Another Grade 1
The team of Bill Mott and Mike Smith delivered its second Grade 1 of the day - to owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms when the five-year-old mare Proviso (Dansili) won the Just A Game Stakes, 1m on Turf, at Belmont Park.
Proviso was originally trained by Andre Fabre in France.
The Prince had just won his third English Derby with Workforce (King's Best USA) earlier in the day.
His Special Duty (Hennessy USA) has won the English and French Guineas in the Stewards' Room through no fault of hers. She is trained by Criquette Head-Maark in France.
Lookin At Lucky Won Preakness Stakes
Lookin At Lucky just lost the 2009 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile to Vale Of York by a head after a troubled run. Racingfotos
The Eclipse Two-Year-Old Colt of 2009 finally overcame the incredible bad luck which has haunted Lookin At Lucky USA (Smart Strike USA) since his shocking loss of the 2009 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile to Godolphin's Vale of York IRE (Invincible Spirit IRE).
Today he survived another difficult race to win the second rung of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (Grade 1), 1m1-1/2f on Dirt at Pimlico, Baltimore MD.
Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver USA (Maria's Mon USA) not only ended up down the field; both horses crushed fans' hopes for a first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Lookin At Lucky won two and lost two races since last year's Breeders' Cup including a Derby trial at Santa Anita and the Kentucky Derby.
His brilliance has been blighted in his three losing races not only by poor draws, but he has been jostled and knocked all over the racetracks.
His trainer Bob Baffert, winner of his fifth Preakness with LAL, decided to change jockeys from Garrett Gomez to M Garcia. Even being drawn wide in 7 next to Super Saver did not faze him.
He battled his way past First Dude USA and Jackson Bend USA to finally win the race he deserved.
Since Lookin At Lucky has had four hard races this season, it will be interesting to see if he can take on the longer distance in the Belmont Stakes June 5.
This is one tough colt. Who said "they don't breed them the way they used to"?
Should he win that third rung of the Triple Crown, many fans will feel very deprived of a TC given his bad luck in the Kentucky Derby.
That won't be a problem as Baffert said Lookin At Lucky will have a rest and will not race again until the Haskell August 1.
Triple Crown in Super Saver's Future?
Calvin Borel (right) won his third Kentucky Derby in four years for first-time
winning trainer Todd Pletcher on his Super Saver. Photo Getty Images
Carl Borel hugged his favourite rail at Churchill Downs to deliver Super Saver USA (Maria's Mon USA) at just the right moment to win the Kentucky Derby in soggy ground.
It is Borel's third KD and trainer Todd Pletcher's first.
Hope this stops unfair criticism of Borel's ride on Rachel Alexandra in La Troienne.
Blind Luck Wins Oaks by a Nose
One has to pity Evening Jewel USA (Northern Afleet USA) for losing two Grade 1 races to Blind Luck USA (Pollard's Vision USA) by a nose both times.
Favourite Blind Luck outlasted her rival again in the Kentucky Oaks, 1m on Dirt for three-year-old fillies.
A record crowd of 116,046 attended the first day of the Kentucky Derby weekend blessed with good weather and Rachel Alexandra racing.
Blind Luck's trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has won the Oaks three times, but was not sure she hit the line first until the result of the photo finish was called.
Both fillies have been in the money in all their races.
Persistent Evening Jewel has only raced five times since December 27, 2009. She won two and placed second three times (to Blind Luck).
Blind Luck, on the other hand, has had nine starts since June 21, 2009, winning six, placing second once and third twice.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano was 99% sure of the result said she "gave me some extra at the end, which won the race."
That extra effort is what wins tight races.
What's Wrong with Rachel Alexandra?
UPDATE: Steve Asmussen said "She (Rachel) was steady today but not quick. I don't see any reason for her not to ultimately be as explosive as she was last year. She's just not there yet and it's possible this is somewhat of a hangover from her hard campaign last season."
He added that she had grown heavier this year and that could affect her speed. There are no plans to replace Carl Borel as her jockey.
Owner Jess Jackson said it may take two or more races this year to get her back to last year, but she will not be retired and is still aimed at the Breeders' Cup Classic where she shall meet Zenyatta USA (Street Cry IRE).
May 1, 2010
The four-year-old filly of Jess Jackson, Rachel Alexandra USA (Medaglia D'Oro USA), lost her second race of 2010 to Unrivaled Belle USA (Unbridled's Song USA) in the Grade 2 $400,000 La Troienne Stakes on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.
The 1-1/16-mile race is for older fillies and mares on Dirt.
Jackson admited that his filly was only 85-90-95% fit (the percentage varies) despite her last workout being impressive.
Rachel Alexandra was 1-5 favourite.
Given the indomnitable spirit of the Horse of the Year and Three-Year-Old-Filly of 2009, why could she not close down the relatively inexperienced Unrivaled Belle? She only lost by a head in 1:42.97.
Jockey Calvin Borel had Rachel out front for most of the race seeing off the others and then they held the rail.
Rachel met UB's initial challenge rather sluggishly. When UB persisted and persisted relentlessly, Rachel just would not or could not wear her down.
The winning four-year-old filly raced for the first time last November in a Grade 1 where she was second.
Unrivaled Belle placed fourth in a Grade 2 in February and won a Grade 3 March 20--the Rampart at Gulfstream Park.
The filly, who was said to be nervous going to the gates, has now won her second Stakes race and her first Grade 2.
And she is the second filly to take Rachel's scalp this year.
Zardana BRZ (Crimson Tide IRE), who was the first, could only manage fifth over 12 lengths behind the leaders.
Unrivaled Belle was trained and ridden by two Hall of Famers: Bill Mott and Kent Desormeaux.
The expectation level for Rachel Alexandra is so high that her coming second is seen by admirers as a major defeat.
Immediate reactions from many disappointed fans is that her failing to close is the trainer's fault and that he should be replaced.
Some fillies just do not train on after arduous three-year-old campaigns. Some become bored with the repetitive workouts or lose interest in racing as their hormones kick in.
Some just do not want to go through the pain barriers any more and Rachel has been through them.
Rachel still tries as she is a sweet docile filly who wants to please.
If she never races or wins again, she is still Rachel. No one can take her exceptional record from her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As8jq3nBwYY
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The World Needed A Heroine
Zenyatta wearing her winner's garland at the Breeders' Cup Classic
2009 with jockey Mike Smith and groom Mario Espinoza. Racingfotos
The growing number of disillusioned worldwide fruitlessly search for national heroes.
For the United States, when humans fail, the most extraordinary racing heroes emerge to feed our natural optimism and let our hopes soar out of despair.
Man o'War, Seabiscuit and Secretariat were those heroes of our past.
Today, United States' racing is blessed with a genuine international heroine Zenyatta (Street Cry IRE).
The six-year-old California mare has raced 16 times and has won all 16 races--the last being her sixth consecutive Grade 1 victory.
She has now equalled the records of the 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, Mister Frisky and 1995-96 Horse of the Year Cigar.
Unlike all the horses above, Zenyatta has never lost a race.
She is the only female ever to win the Breeders' Cup Classic (2009).
Critics would hold her hooves to the fire claiming that her trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss treated her too kindly as a female and never fully tested her against males.
Those arguments crumbled when she destroyed the field of Grade 1-winning males in the Breeders' Cup Classic from her favoured position many lengths behind the field only closing in the final quarter.
Impossible to make up the daunting distance. No. All jockey Mike Smith needed to do is to lean forward in the saddle and the 17.2-or-.4-hand beauty loped past every horse ahead of her.
She displayed familiar form in her sixteenth victory in Oaklawn Park's Grade 1 $500,000 Apple Blossom States in Hot Springs, Arkansas, last night when swooping wide in the final turn and winning by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:50.71 for 1-1/8 miles on the fast main Dirt track.
It was a hand-and-heels' victory with no use of the whip.
Shirreffs said "I would say this and her last race were pretty impressive to me. She did it well, well within herself."
She clearly now has increased self confidence.
It is Zenyatta's second Apple Blossom victory and her owners, who took home another $300,000, said she loved travelling and "reveling in getting back on Dirt".
This bodes well for her chances to win a second Breeders' Cup Classic title November 7 in Kentucky on Dirt.
Her career winnings now total $5,924,580--another record.
But all her firsts, records and record smashing cannot explain the phenomenan of Zenyatta.
Why did a crowd of 44,973 Oaklawn Park's racegoers "go nuts"?
Why has every California crowd gone "nuts" since her early filly races?
Why did the Breeders' Cup international crowd at Santa Anita or those watching worldwide by video "go nuts"?
Why do fans follow this mare from early morning track workouts, to airports where she is accompanied by police escorts, to paddock chutes, to anywhere just to get a glimpse of her or film her?
The once shy, gawky and gangling filly filled out in time to become one of the most beautiful and perfect-looking horses ever to race.
Her conformation is flawless and her racing style is enthrallingly effortless.
She races the same way every time, 'her way', and wins the hard way.
And she dances to and from wherever--ever mindful of the adoring fans applauding her every step.
Amongst her closest connections, she is known for her kindness and gentleness.
She is the shy girl who found endless love for simply showing up, doing what she joyfully does better than any living horse, dancing a bit and bowing humbly to her besotted public.
She makes people cheer, laugh, run to her, cry and even make offers of marriage.
So loved, it would not matter if she ever raced again.
Despite the fact that the public cannot get enough of her, one hears so many saying "Just keep her safe and healthy".
The fear factor has set in.
That is what love is.
We needed a hero and we got a faultless heroine.
Keep her safe and healthy.
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Zenyatta Listed 12th Of 20 Top U.S. Thoroughbreds
In my last column, I asked "What could anyone say about this phenomenal mare that could do her justice?"
In her sixth year, Zenyatta USA (Street Cry IRE), won her first outing of the season in Santa Anita's Santa Margarita Invitational (Grade 1), 1-1/8m, on Pro-Ride.
It was her 15th victory of 15 starts and she gave away 12 lbs to her competitors with her 127 rating.
Next she will compete in the Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn on April 9 "to equal Cigar's modern-day record of 16 consecutive unrestricted victories", according to Oaklawn's statement.
Triple Crown winner Citation also won 16 straight victories and New Mexico mare Peppers Pride 19 (none of which were graded stakes).
To date Zenyatta has earned $5.6 million and has won nine Grade 1 races.
Jon White of XpressBet answered my question in "Where Does Zenyatta Rank?"
His comments were based on the list of The Blood-Horse's Top 10 racehorses of the 20th Century which was determined by a panel of such racing officials as Howard Battle, Lenny Hale, Pete Pedersen and Tommy Trotter and writers Jay Hovdey and William Nack (who wrote the definitive biography of Secretariat and is adapting it to the big screen).
TBH's top 10:
1. Man o'War
2. Secretariat
3. Citation
4. Kelso
5. Count Fleet
6. Dr Fager
7. Native Dancer
8. Forego
9. Seattle Slew
10. Spectacular Bid
Almost everyone who has followed American racing would agree with the top four choices.
White agrees with the top 10, but would drop Count Fleet and Dr Fager to 9 and 10, raise Spectacular Bid to 6 and Seattle Slew to 8.
More to our point, he would move the tragic filly Ruffian who died on the racecourse at three to 11 (only 35 on TBH rankings) and Zenyatta to 12.
Whilst he doubts that Zenyatta could beat any of the top three males unless they had a bad day, he would not bet against her running against any of the others.
"Because Zenyatta is still racing, her position among the all-time greats--whatever it currently is--remains in flux", White says.
White admits the rankings are only his opinion. I agree with his opinion about Zenyatta and Ruffian.
Now that high emotions are under control after the Eclipse Horse of the Year competition and the Apple Blossom challenge race with Rachel Alexandra that won't happen, more serious racing analysts acknowledge that Zenyatta is not only extraordinary, but truly great in the pantheon of American thoroughbred racing.
Zenyatta's trainer John Shirreffs said "How can you be better than perfect?"
Precisely. It's time for Pink Power to break through the glass ceiling and put the first female horse in the Top 10.
If any female can do it, "She's breathing fire" can.
Queen Zenyatta Wins 15 Out Of 15 Starts
What could anyone say about this phenomenal mare that could do her justice?
Yet, like the great colt Sea The Stars IRE (Cape Cross IRE), she just cannot do enough to please some negative diehards.
In her sixth year, Zenyatta USA (Street Cry IRE), won her first outing of the season in Santa Anita's Santa Margarita Invitational (Grade 1), 1-1/8m, on Pro-Ride.
It was her 15th victory of 15 starts.
She gave away 12 lbs to her competitors at 127.
Her jockey Mike Smith said before the race that he thought she was better than ever at six.
He certainly gave that prediction a severe test in bringing her from her usual last to first in the final quarter mile where she ran into a bottleneck.
She slipped through horses with pricked ears, was cut off again and again, made one of the sharpest cuts to the rail I've ever seen to emerge with only hands and heels to take the race by a length and a half.
The final quarter for all that action was run in 23.88s and 1.48.20s for the race.
Smith ended gasping making Signs of the Cross and of the Trinity.
Zenyatta barely broke a sweat and waited patiently for her jockey to compose himself before dancing off to her Winner's Circle where a record Santa Anita crowd of over 23,000 awaited its Champion.
When her trainer John Shirreffs was asked if she is better now than last year, he said "How can you be better than perfect?"
Shirreffs had further reason for celebration. His 6yo underrated Zardana BRZ (Crimson Tide IRE) beat Zenyatta's great rival Rachel Alexandra USA (Medaglio D'Oro USA) in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes, 1m1-1/2f on Dirt.
Rachel took to the front leaving all behind but for the tiny Zardana who came from fourth to close down the USA's Horse of the Year 2009 despite her rallying at the end.
The tough little mare, who had raced once before this year, took out a tired Rachel in the latter's first outing of the season by 3/4 lengths.
As Rachel's jockey Calvin Borel said, "She tried her heart out."
Trainer Steve Asmussen admitted that he may have overestimated her readiness. In fairness, her workouts were late and limited due to bad weather.
She had a very, very hard 2009 season for a three-year old filly.
The racing public is lucky she still wants to race and retains her natural aggressiveness and courage.
Before the race, her owner Jess Jackson had dismissed Zardana as a stalking horse for Zenyatta.
Zardana's jockey David Flores did not apologise for his Grade 2 winner beating the champion.
"We had a picture-perfect trip. The strategy was simply to get her to relax and John (Shirreffs) said she would get the job done."
"I got after her pretty hard coming home but she is a real warrior."
Rachel was scheduled to meet Zenyatta on Dirt in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 9 (upped to $5 million if they both show).
Sherriffs said Zenyatta will be there.
Jackson announced Sunday that he and Asmussen made a mistake in accelerating Rachel's training program to compete in the Apple Blossom. She will take her time getting back to form and skip the Meet.
Brazil's Zardana Honoured
Brazil's Gloria De Campeao (Impression ARG) showed the same grit and determination in winning the prestigious Dubai World Cup that the six-year-old mare Zardana BRZ (Crimson Tide IRE) did
in defeating the USA's 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia D'Oro USA), in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies.
Zardana was named Horse of the Meet for Fair Grounds Racecourse' 2009-2010 Thoroughbred meet by a vote of media and racing officials.
Lookin At Lucky Got Lucky
Outfitted with blinkers for the first time and racing on Dirt for his first start of 2010, hot prospect for the Kentucky Derby Lookin At Lucky USA (Smart Strike USA) overcame numerous obstacles to win the Grade 2 $300,000 Rebel Stakes, 1m1/16f, in 1.43.06 by a neck.
The Hot Springs, Arkansas, race had 36,298 attendees.
His trainer Bob Baffert gushed "I've become a fan of his. I like watching him run because I know--he's like Silver Charm--you know he's going to give you everything he's got."
The gutsy colt was bounced around and cut off, but showed the closing kick he failed to produce against Vale of York IRE (Invincible Spirit IRE) in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) at two in 2009.
He was a worthy Eclipse Two-Year-Old of the Year 2009 winner and shows professionalism and progression at three.
Other Younsters To Watch in the USA
Several others to watch are Odysseus USA (Malibu Moon USA), winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 3), Sidney's Candy USA (Candy Ride ARG descended from Candy Stripes, sire of Invasor), winner of the San Felipe Stakes (Grade 2).
Not to be outdone, filly No Such Word USA (Canadian Frontier USA) won her stakes debut and second start in the Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee at Oaklawn by 2-1/2 lengths.
She is owned and bred by Brereton C Jones and trained by Cindy Jones.
Paddy O'Prado USA (El Prado IRE), the likeable grey colt who had a good chance in the Kentucky Derby if only the ground was muddy, found his specialty -Turf.
He was third in the Kentucky Derby to Super Saver and never came into his own on Dirt.
Saturday, he was the favourite in a field of seven three-year olds competing in the Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in New Kent, VA, after winning two graded Turf races: the Palm Beach and Colonial Cups.
He easily defeated Interactif after shooting through a rail opening in the 1-1/4 mile race winning by 1-1/2 lengths.
Trainer Dale Romans said "I couldn't think of taking him off it (grass) for now."
He will next race August 21 in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard at Arlington Park.
Gio Ponti now has a three-year-old competitor who, hopefully, will be campaigned internationally.
Gio Ponti Is Back
Gio Ponti USA (Tale Of The Cat USA) won his first race of 2010 in the Grade 1 $600,000 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park.
The 1-3/8m race was run on firm Turf.
He turned around his losses from the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (second to Zenyatta) and fourth in the Dubai World Cup.
Last year, he was a double Eclipse winner as top older male at five and top grass horse.
His next race could be the Arlington Million or the Pacific Classic.
Rachel's Back
Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson announced that she would reappear in the ungraded Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park July 24.
Putting her into an ungraded race at the start of the Saratoga season has set off controversy, but one cannot blame Jackson for accepting Monmouth's offer to raise the purse from $150,000 to $400,000 if she would appear.
Seems firm, but you never know with Jackson.
Awesome Gem Won His First Grade 1
It took Awesome Gem USA (Awesome Again USA) 36 starts to win a Grade 1 at seven years.
He beat defending champion Rail Trip USA (Jump Start USA) in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, 1-1/4m.
Rail Trip had won the two 9f Hollywood Park prep races and was favourite.
AG's jockey David Flores said his horse was behind in traffic until he found an opening. "That was the most beautiful thing, when you have a horse that can accelerate like that at any time."
Mine That Bird Flops In Comeback
Mine That Bird (Birdstone USA) placed eighth in the July 4 $175,000 Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap on Churchill Downs' closing day - one place back for every month he took off from racing.
The four-year-old gelding made his debut on grass at a mile which was possibly too short a distance for him.
Some critics felt that jockey Calvin Borel left the closing too late.
The race was considered a prep by connections for the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga August 7 where he may meet Quality Road and Blame.
MTB For Firecracker Handicap July 4
Mine That Bird (Birdstone USA) will go racing after an eight-month layoff in the July 4 $175,000 Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap on closing day at Churchill Downs.
The four-year-old gelding's participation has stirred a major 'buzz' for the last day of the April-July Churchill racetrack season.
It will be his first time on Turf and races a mile which could be too short a distance for him.
Connections are not too worried if he loses as they see it as a prep for the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga August 7.
Since his return in a Conditions race was cancelled, one hopes enough entries fill out the Firecracker.
Chinchon Won United Nations Stakes
Multi-national Chinchon IRE (Marju IRE) was bred by Zubieta Ltd, is owned by Sarl Darpat France and trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias of France.
For his second visit to the United States, the five-year old ran an awesome first to last to win the Grade1 $750,000 United Nations Stakes, 1-3/8m, by 1-1/2 lengths.
Jockey Garrett Gomez said "He's a beautiful horse that travelled very well."
Chinchon won his first Grade 1 in this race beating a field with five other Grade 1 winners and also won his invitation to the Breeders' Cup Turf race as the United Nations Stakes was one of the "Win And You're In" Challenge races.
Rachel's Return
Rachel Alexandra's owner announced that she would reappear in the ungraded Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park July 24.
Putting her into an ungraded race at the start of the Saratoga season has set off controversy, but one cannot blame the owner Jess Jackson for accepting Monmouth's offer to raise the purse from $150,000 to $400,000 if she would appear.
Seems firm, but you never know with Jackson.
MTB Diverted
Things have not gone as well for Mine That Bird's return as his chosen Conditions race at Churchill Downs was cancelled. There were not enough entries to fill out the race.
Did he scare them off?
Godolphin USA On A Roll
Desert Party USA (Street Cry IRE) returned to action in the United States after surgery and won his race in style.
He raced from first to last to win the $200,000 LeVine Handicap by 3-1/2 lengths at Philadelphia Park for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey David Cohen.
Desert Party won the UAE 2000 Guineas last year and was second to stablemate Regal Ransom in the UAE Derby.
He was considered a hot prospect for the Kentucky Derby, but ran only to 14th - 22 lengths behind winner Mine That Bird USA (Birdstone USA) last May.
Unfortunately, he was injured in the race and required surgery for an ankle chip keeping him from the racetracks until being eased back at four in the Dubai March races.
He has the same Darley sire as Zenyatta and Zaidan.
To cap off the day, Saeed bin Suroor's three-year-old Cappiwino USA (Soto USA) won his third career start in a confidence building 6-1/2 furlong allowance race at Belmont Park.
Rajiv Maragh rode the winner for owner Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al Maktoum who is a son of Sheikh Mohammed.
Zaidan (Zenyatta's Brother) To Kentucky Derby?
Zenyatta's two-year-old half brother Zaidan (centre in white with red stripes) made his move to demolish the field in Royal Ascot's Chesham Stakes by three lengths and may have bought his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. Photo David Hastings
When the stunningly handsome two-year-old colt Zaidan USA (Street Cry IRE) won the 7f Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot by 3 lengths, it was like watching the knock-out punch of his illustrious half-sister Zenyatta.
He has won both his two starts and his internationally savvy trainer Clive Brittain sees the 2011 Kentucky Derby in his future instead of the UK Guineas.
At the moment, he and owner Saeed Manana are not planning a Breeders' Cup campaign in November.
Mine That Bird
I admit it gives me great pleasure to learn that Mine That Bird's new trainer D Wayne Lukas has reunited the four-year-old gelding with jockey Calvin Borel and they are doing very fast fractions over the Churchill Downs track.
MTB may race in the $63,000 Allowance at 1-1/16m at Churchill, the $250,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park - both on July 3 - or the $175,000 Firecracker Handicap at Churchill on July 4.
Whichever race is chosen, it would be a prep for the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on August 7 where MTB could confront Quality Road and Blame.
Lukas has not disguised his enthusiasm for the colt and said "I've got him nominated to everything but the Tokyo Fair."
I suspect MTB could be game for that as well now that he is firing again.
The Best Female
It will come as a shock to the US racegoers that the rest of the world rates five-year-old Goldikova as the best racing female in the world.
She was rated in tie with Rip Van Winkle last year at 133 just below the world leader Sea The Stars at 136.
Though she has won both her races in 2010, I suspect the handicappers will not accept that number as she has not won her 2010 races by thousands of lengths (seeminly their criteria).
This year, she appears to conserve her energy more wisely. She barely blows after her shorter-distance victories and is enjoying herself more.
Believe it. This tail-swishing, elegant mare is deadly.
Words Fail, Zenyatta
Like her arch rival Rachel Alexandra, the experts and public feared Zenyatta USA (Street Cry USA) could not win her latest race - the Grade 1 $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park, 1m1f on All Weather.
Rachel Alexandra raced twice and was second twice this year until her blistering 10-1/2-length victory in Saturday's $214,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs.
Zenyatta is a female phenomenen who had won 16 out of 16 career starts and was racing to best the 16-each total consecutive victories of Triple Crown winner Citation, Cigar, Hallowed Dreams and Mr Frisky.
The six-year-old mare conceded 9lbs all round to five other females in the Vanity which included her stablemate Zardana, who defeated Rachel, and English-bred St Trinians (Piccolo).
Besides carrying 9lbs extra, observers were disturbed that Zenyatta was given easy workouts and only required to sprint briefly at their end.
It was also feared that Zenyatta could lose because of her racing style.
She always races the same way. She lopes along in last position until 2-3 furlongs out from home when she picks up speed. Depending where she is at that moment, she athleticly scythes through or around the oppostion.
Her principal competitor, St Trinians, also is a closer who raced just ahead of Zenyatta. Both mares had seven or more lengths to make up and started moving closer to the leaders as they entered the far turn.
St Trinians reached the front first, displacing the leader Zardana near the rail, and keeping Zenyatta wide.
Zenyatta was always four-to-six horses off the rail racing the farthest distance with her extra weight.
Her jockey Mike Smith seemed to cut his move to first too tightly leaving Zenyatta vulnerable on the outside of gallant St Trinians.
Realising the post was closer than he thought, Smith asked for more and she quickly extended that giant stride of hers with pricked ears winning by a heart-stopping 1/2 length.
Smith admitted that she needed the race and it would make Zenyatta an even tougher rival in her future starts.
Trainer John Shirreffs said he waited for Zenyatta to engage her overdrive with "I've great faith in her. She just finds a way to win - you know, she has this tremendous finishing kick."
The good ones do.
Martin Garcia, St Trinians' jockey, was proud of his mare, but said "The other horse is just too much horse."
And Zenyatta has beaten the record of top North American males in winning her 17th consecutive race most of which are Graded races.
She has never lost a race.
Now all she has to do is match or beat little Peppers Pride's record of 19 consecutive races won (only restricted State-bred events in New Mexico between 2005-08) and to win the Breeders' Cup Classic for the second consecutive year.
Racing insiders have other ideas.
They have returned to the familiar cant of: in which race will Zenyatta meet Rachel Alexandra?
They are proposing either the $750,000 Delaware Handicap on July 17 or the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap at Saratoga on August 1.
They are shying from having the two mega stars meet Quality Road USA (Elusive Quality USA), the impressive four-year-old colt who lost his chance to compete in the Breeders' Cup last year after acting up at the stalls.
He is entered in the Whitney on August 7 and the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Wonder what the odds are for the two divas ever meeting before the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.
As to Zenyatta, we are privileged to share her extraordinary achievements. I hope she wins every race she races and breaks every record that exists "doing it her way".
Rachel Is Back
Reports of her career demise, "running out of gas" and her having "no more excuses" for coming in second when everyone expects her to win every race were clearly put to bed yesterday in the Grade 2 $214,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs, 1-1/8m on Dirt.
Rachel Alexandra USA (Medaglia D'Oro USA) was the old Rachel looking confident, imperious and gorgeous.
Whatever stopped her from challenging the two fillies who headed and defeated her in her first two races of 2010 is no longer an issue.
If she feared going through the pain barrier she faced in her last race of 2009 against colts, she is past it.
Despite Calvin Borel jinking her sharply to the right temporarily costing her momentum as she took the lead, Rachel rebalanced herself and took off for a fast-finish, 10-1/2 lengths' victory over the longshot second Distinctive Dixie USA (Fusaichi Pegasus USA).
She showed a new maturity, precise and natural athletic control, increasing speed and beautiful leg action that reminded me of the great miler mare Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA).
Her even, fast movement no doubt results from her powerful back quarters which are poetry in action.
Welcome back to the Winner's Circle, Rachel. It's where you belong.
Third Leg Of Triple Crown To 13.1 Shot
Despite being described by his jockey Mike Smith as a one-pace horse, Drosselmeyer USA (Distorted Humor USA) relentlessly ran down leader First Dude and outran his old adversary and late closer Fly Down to win the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, 1m4f, June 5.
The handsome chestnut, only placed in two of his first three races (all Grade 2s) in 2010 and fourth in the third, raced off pace on the outside to three fulongs out when he started his long and wide move forward.
Trainer Bill Mott said "He always keeps coming. He circled horses, and kept the momentum going."
Though the race was slow at 2.31.57, it was steady and fair. Every horse had a chance to take out the winner, but none could. He won by 3/4 lengths.
Drosselmeyer, who was one of the Classic season's favourites, took a long time to mature. His tender front feet were clad in bar shoes until race morning when they were changed to racing plates.
Hall of Fame trainer Mott won his first Triple Crown race and Smith, who replaced Kent Desormeaux, won his first Belmont Stakes despite racing regularly at the track.
WinStar Farm, breeder of Drosselmeyer, got a bookend for their Super Saver's Kentucky Derby.
Unfortunately, this year no three-year old was up to even two legs of the Triple Crown thereby reviving arguments that the races are too close together and that horses are not bred to be as strong as their earlier counterparts.
Europeans believe there is too much worldwide inbreeding to the Native Dancer line and that American horses are bred for short bursts of speed instead of stamina.
Drosselmeyer looks to be the exception to the latter. A very nice horse in a pleasingly balanced race.
Proviso Gives Juddmonte Another Grade 1
The team of Bill Mott and Mike Smith delivered its second Grade 1 of the day - to owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms when the five-year-old mare Proviso (Dansili) won the Just A Game Stakes, 1m on Turf, at Belmont Park.
Proviso was originally trained by Andre Fabre in France.
The Prince had just won his third English Derby with Workforce (King's Best USA) earlier in the day.
His Special Duty (Hennessy USA) has won the English and French Guineas in the Stewards' Room through no fault of hers. She is trained by Criquette Head-Maark in France.
Lookin At Lucky Won Preakness Stakes
Lookin At Lucky just lost the 2009 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile to Vale Of York by a head after a troubled run. Racingfotos
The Eclipse Two-Year-Old Colt of 2009 finally overcame the incredible bad luck which has haunted Lookin At Lucky USA (Smart Strike USA) since his shocking loss of the 2009 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile to Godolphin's Vale of York IRE (Invincible Spirit IRE).
Today he survived another difficult race to win the second rung of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (Grade 1), 1m1-1/2f on Dirt at Pimlico, Baltimore MD.
Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver USA (Maria's Mon USA) not only ended up down the field; both horses crushed fans' hopes for a first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Lookin At Lucky won two and lost two races since last year's Breeders' Cup including a Derby trial at Santa Anita and the Kentucky Derby.
His brilliance has been blighted in his three losing races not only by poor draws, but he has been jostled and knocked all over the racetracks.
His trainer Bob Baffert, winner of his fifth Preakness with LAL, decided to change jockeys from Garrett Gomez to M Garcia. Even being drawn wide in 7 next to Super Saver did not faze him.
He battled his way past First Dude USA and Jackson Bend USA to finally win the race he deserved.
Since Lookin At Lucky has had four hard races this season, it will be interesting to see if he can take on the longer distance in the Belmont Stakes June 5.
This is one tough colt. Who said "they don't breed them the way they used to"?
Should he win that third rung of the Triple Crown, many fans will feel very deprived of a TC given his bad luck in the Kentucky Derby.
That won't be a problem as Baffert said Lookin At Lucky will have a rest and will not race again until the Haskell August 1.
Triple Crown in Super Saver's Future?
Calvin Borel (right) won his third Kentucky Derby in four years for first-time
winning trainer Todd Pletcher on his Super Saver. Photo Getty Images
Carl Borel hugged his favourite rail at Churchill Downs to deliver Super Saver USA (Maria's Mon USA) at just the right moment to win the Kentucky Derby in soggy ground.
It is Borel's third KD and trainer Todd Pletcher's first.
Hope this stops unfair criticism of Borel's ride on Rachel Alexandra in La Troienne.
Blind Luck Wins Oaks by a Nose
One has to pity Evening Jewel USA (Northern Afleet USA) for losing two Grade 1 races to Blind Luck USA (Pollard's Vision USA) by a nose both times.
Favourite Blind Luck outlasted her rival again in the Kentucky Oaks, 1m on Dirt for three-year-old fillies.
A record crowd of 116,046 attended the first day of the Kentucky Derby weekend blessed with good weather and Rachel Alexandra racing.
Blind Luck's trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has won the Oaks three times, but was not sure she hit the line first until the result of the photo finish was called.
Both fillies have been in the money in all their races.
Persistent Evening Jewel has only raced five times since December 27, 2009. She won two and placed second three times (to Blind Luck).
Blind Luck, on the other hand, has had nine starts since June 21, 2009, winning six, placing second once and third twice.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano was 99% sure of the result said she "gave me some extra at the end, which won the race."
That extra effort is what wins tight races.
What's Wrong with Rachel Alexandra?
UPDATE: Steve Asmussen said "She (Rachel) was steady today but not quick. I don't see any reason for her not to ultimately be as explosive as she was last year. She's just not there yet and it's possible this is somewhat of a hangover from her hard campaign last season."
He added that she had grown heavier this year and that could affect her speed. There are no plans to replace Carl Borel as her jockey.
Owner Jess Jackson said it may take two or more races this year to get her back to last year, but she will not be retired and is still aimed at the Breeders' Cup Classic where she shall meet Zenyatta USA (Street Cry IRE).
May 1, 2010
The four-year-old filly of Jess Jackson, Rachel Alexandra USA (Medaglia D'Oro USA), lost her second race of 2010 to Unrivaled Belle USA (Unbridled's Song USA) in the Grade 2 $400,000 La Troienne Stakes on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.
The 1-1/16-mile race is for older fillies and mares on Dirt.
Jackson admited that his filly was only 85-90-95% fit (the percentage varies) despite her last workout being impressive.
Rachel Alexandra was 1-5 favourite.
Given the indomnitable spirit of the Horse of the Year and Three-Year-Old-Filly of 2009, why could she not close down the relatively inexperienced Unrivaled Belle? She only lost by a head in 1:42.97.
Jockey Calvin Borel had Rachel out front for most of the race seeing off the others and then they held the rail.
Rachel met UB's initial challenge rather sluggishly. When UB persisted and persisted relentlessly, Rachel just would not or could not wear her down.
The winning four-year-old filly raced for the first time last November in a Grade 1 where she was second.
Unrivaled Belle placed fourth in a Grade 2 in February and won a Grade 3 March 20--the Rampart at Gulfstream Park.
The filly, who was said to be nervous going to the gates, has now won her second Stakes race and her first Grade 2.
And she is the second filly to take Rachel's scalp this year.
Zardana BRZ (Crimson Tide IRE), who was the first, could only manage fifth over 12 lengths behind the leaders.
Unrivaled Belle was trained and ridden by two Hall of Famers: Bill Mott and Kent Desormeaux.
The expectation level for Rachel Alexandra is so high that her coming second is seen by admirers as a major defeat.
Immediate reactions from many disappointed fans is that her failing to close is the trainer's fault and that he should be replaced.
Some fillies just do not train on after arduous three-year-old campaigns. Some become bored with the repetitive workouts or lose interest in racing as their hormones kick in.
Some just do not want to go through the pain barriers any more and Rachel has been through them.
Rachel still tries as she is a sweet docile filly who wants to please.
If she never races or wins again, she is still Rachel. No one can take her exceptional record from her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As8jq3nBwYY
Readers of Racing International Are Invited to Join Zenyatta4President
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The World Needed A Heroine
Zenyatta wearing her winner's garland at the Breeders' Cup Classic
2009 with jockey Mike Smith and groom Mario Espinoza. Racingfotos
The growing number of disillusioned worldwide fruitlessly search for national heroes.
For the United States, when humans fail, the most extraordinary racing heroes emerge to feed our natural optimism and let our hopes soar out of despair.
Man o'War, Seabiscuit and Secretariat were those heroes of our past.
Today, United States' racing is blessed with a genuine international heroine Zenyatta (Street Cry IRE).
The six-year-old California mare has raced 16 times and has won all 16 races--the last being her sixth consecutive Grade 1 victory.
She has now equalled the records of the 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, Mister Frisky and 1995-96 Horse of the Year Cigar.
Unlike all the horses above, Zenyatta has never lost a race.
She is the only female ever to win the Breeders' Cup Classic (2009).
Critics would hold her hooves to the fire claiming that her trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss treated her too kindly as a female and never fully tested her against males.
Those arguments crumbled when she destroyed the field of Grade 1-winning males in the Breeders' Cup Classic from her favoured position many lengths behind the field only closing in the final quarter.
Impossible to make up the daunting distance. No. All jockey Mike Smith needed to do is to lean forward in the saddle and the 17.2-or-.4-hand beauty loped past every horse ahead of her.
She displayed familiar form in her sixteenth victory in Oaklawn Park's Grade 1 $500,000 Apple Blossom States in Hot Springs, Arkansas, last night when swooping wide in the final turn and winning by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:50.71 for 1-1/8 miles on the fast main Dirt track.
It was a hand-and-heels' victory with no use of the whip.
Shirreffs said "I would say this and her last race were pretty impressive to me. She did it well, well within herself."
She clearly now has increased self confidence.
It is Zenyatta's second Apple Blossom victory and her owners, who took home another $300,000, said she loved travelling and "reveling in getting back on Dirt".
This bodes well for her chances to win a second Breeders' Cup Classic title November 7 in Kentucky on Dirt.
Her career winnings now total $5,924,580--another record.
But all her firsts, records and record smashing cannot explain the phenomenan of Zenyatta.
Why did a crowd of 44,973 Oaklawn Park's racegoers "go nuts"?
Why has every California crowd gone "nuts" since her early filly races?
Why did the Breeders' Cup international crowd at Santa Anita or those watching worldwide by video "go nuts"?
Why do fans follow this mare from early morning track workouts, to airports where she is accompanied by police escorts, to paddock chutes, to anywhere just to get a glimpse of her or film her?
The once shy, gawky and gangling filly filled out in time to become one of the most beautiful and perfect-looking horses ever to race.
Her conformation is flawless and her racing style is enthrallingly effortless.
She races the same way every time, 'her way', and wins the hard way.
And she dances to and from wherever--ever mindful of the adoring fans applauding her every step.
Amongst her closest connections, she is known for her kindness and gentleness.
She is the shy girl who found endless love for simply showing up, doing what she joyfully does better than any living horse, dancing a bit and bowing humbly to her besotted public.
She makes people cheer, laugh, run to her, cry and even make offers of marriage.
So loved, it would not matter if she ever raced again.
Despite the fact that the public cannot get enough of her, one hears so many saying "Just keep her safe and healthy".
The fear factor has set in.
That is what love is.
We needed a hero and we got a faultless heroine.
Keep her safe and healthy.
Join Zenyatta4President on facebook.
Zenyatta Listed 12th Of 20 Top U.S. Thoroughbreds
In my last column, I asked "What could anyone say about this phenomenal mare that could do her justice?"
In her sixth year, Zenyatta USA (Street Cry IRE), won her first outing of the season in Santa Anita's Santa Margarita Invitational (Grade 1), 1-1/8m, on Pro-Ride.
It was her 15th victory of 15 starts and she gave away 12 lbs to her competitors with her 127 rating.
Next she will compete in the Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn on April 9 "to equal Cigar's modern-day record of 16 consecutive unrestricted victories", according to Oaklawn's statement.
Triple Crown winner Citation also won 16 straight victories and New Mexico mare Peppers Pride 19 (none of which were graded stakes).
To date Zenyatta has earned $5.6 million and has won nine Grade 1 races.
Jon White of XpressBet answered my question in "Where Does Zenyatta Rank?"
His comments were based on the list of The Blood-Horse's Top 10 racehorses of the 20th Century which was determined by a panel of such racing officials as Howard Battle, Lenny Hale, Pete Pedersen and Tommy Trotter and writers Jay Hovdey and William Nack (who wrote the definitive biography of Secretariat and is adapting it to the big screen).
TBH's top 10:
1. Man o'War
2. Secretariat
3. Citation
4. Kelso
5. Count Fleet
6. Dr Fager
7. Native Dancer
8. Forego
9. Seattle Slew
10. Spectacular Bid
Almost everyone who has followed American racing would agree with the top four choices.
White agrees with the top 10, but would drop Count Fleet and Dr Fager to 9 and 10, raise Spectacular Bid to 6 and Seattle Slew to 8.
More to our point, he would move the tragic filly Ruffian who died on the racecourse at three to 11 (only 35 on TBH rankings) and Zenyatta to 12.
Whilst he doubts that Zenyatta could beat any of the top three males unless they had a bad day, he would not bet against her running against any of the others.
"Because Zenyatta is still racing, her position among the all-time greats--whatever it currently is--remains in flux", White says.
White admits the rankings are only his opinion. I agree with his opinion about Zenyatta and Ruffian.
Now that high emotions are under control after the Eclipse Horse of the Year competition and the Apple Blossom challenge race with Rachel Alexandra that won't happen, more serious racing analysts acknowledge that Zenyatta is not only extraordinary, but truly great in the pantheon of American thoroughbred racing.
Zenyatta's trainer John Shirreffs said "How can you be better than perfect?"
Precisely. It's time for Pink Power to break through the glass ceiling and put the first female horse in the Top 10.
If any female can do it, "She's breathing fire" can.
Queen Zenyatta Wins 15 Out Of 15 Starts
What could anyone say about this phenomenal mare that could do her justice?
Yet, like the great colt Sea The Stars IRE (Cape Cross IRE), she just cannot do enough to please some negative diehards.
In her sixth year, Zenyatta USA (Street Cry IRE), won her first outing of the season in Santa Anita's Santa Margarita Invitational (Grade 1), 1-1/8m, on Pro-Ride.
It was her 15th victory of 15 starts.
She gave away 12 lbs to her competitors at 127.
Her jockey Mike Smith said before the race that he thought she was better than ever at six.
He certainly gave that prediction a severe test in bringing her from her usual last to first in the final quarter mile where she ran into a bottleneck.
She slipped through horses with pricked ears, was cut off again and again, made one of the sharpest cuts to the rail I've ever seen to emerge with only hands and heels to take the race by a length and a half.
The final quarter for all that action was run in 23.88s and 1.48.20s for the race.
Smith ended gasping making Signs of the Cross and of the Trinity.
Zenyatta barely broke a sweat and waited patiently for her jockey to compose himself before dancing off to her Winner's Circle where a record Santa Anita crowd of over 23,000 awaited its Champion.
When her trainer John Shirreffs was asked if she is better now than last year, he said "How can you be better than perfect?"
Shirreffs had further reason for celebration. His 6yo underrated Zardana BRZ (Crimson Tide IRE) beat Zenyatta's great rival Rachel Alexandra USA (Medaglio D'Oro USA) in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes, 1m1-1/2f on Dirt.
Rachel took to the front leaving all behind but for the tiny Zardana who came from fourth to close down the USA's Horse of the Year 2009 despite her rallying at the end.
The tough little mare, who had raced once before this year, took out a tired Rachel in the latter's first outing of the season by 3/4 lengths.
As Rachel's jockey Calvin Borel said, "She tried her heart out."
Trainer Steve Asmussen admitted that he may have overestimated her readiness. In fairness, her workouts were late and limited due to bad weather.
She had a very, very hard 2009 season for a three-year old filly.
The racing public is lucky she still wants to race and retains her natural aggressiveness and courage.
Before the race, her owner Jess Jackson had dismissed Zardana as a stalking horse for Zenyatta.
Zardana's jockey David Flores did not apologise for his Grade 2 winner beating the champion.
"We had a picture-perfect trip. The strategy was simply to get her to relax and John (Shirreffs) said she would get the job done."
"I got after her pretty hard coming home but she is a real warrior."
Rachel was scheduled to meet Zenyatta on Dirt in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 9 (upped to $5 million if they both show).
Sherriffs said Zenyatta will be there.
Jackson announced Sunday that he and Asmussen made a mistake in accelerating Rachel's training program to compete in the Apple Blossom. She will take her time getting back to form and skip the Meet.
Brazil's Zardana Honoured
Brazil's Gloria De Campeao (Impression ARG) showed the same grit and determination in winning the prestigious Dubai World Cup that the six-year-old mare Zardana BRZ (Crimson Tide IRE) did
in defeating the USA's 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia D'Oro USA), in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies.
Zardana was named Horse of the Meet for Fair Grounds Racecourse' 2009-2010 Thoroughbred meet by a vote of media and racing officials.
Lookin At Lucky Got Lucky
Outfitted with blinkers for the first time and racing on Dirt for his first start of 2010, hot prospect for the Kentucky Derby Lookin At Lucky USA (Smart Strike USA) overcame numerous obstacles to win the Grade 2 $300,000 Rebel Stakes, 1m1/16f, in 1.43.06 by a neck.
The Hot Springs, Arkansas, race had 36,298 attendees.
His trainer Bob Baffert gushed "I've become a fan of his. I like watching him run because I know--he's like Silver Charm--you know he's going to give you everything he's got."
The gutsy colt was bounced around and cut off, but showed the closing kick he failed to produce against Vale of York IRE (Invincible Spirit IRE) in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) at two in 2009.
He was a worthy Eclipse Two-Year-Old of the Year 2009 winner and shows professionalism and progression at three.
Other Younsters To Watch in the USA
Several others to watch are Odysseus USA (Malibu Moon USA), winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 3), Sidney's Candy USA (Candy Ride ARG descended from Candy Stripes, sire of Invasor), winner of the San Felipe Stakes (Grade 2).
Not to be outdone, filly No Such Word USA (Canadian Frontier USA) won her stakes debut and second start in the Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee at Oaklawn by 2-1/2 lengths.
She is owned and bred by Brereton C Jones and trained by Cindy Jones.
