Sunday, October 3, 2010

ZENYATTA, WONDER HORSE, WINS 19TH STRAIGHT VICTORY AND REMAINS UNDEFEATED

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-zenyatta-oak-tree-20101003,0,4472555.column

19th straight victory...2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyYGjCTQGk




BREEDERS CUP VICTORY AGAINST MALES...2009


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZkfR1KIrhY&feature=fvw

BREEDERS CUP VICTORY...2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXWDdFYmhkI&feature=related

ZENYATTA DANCE


Zenyatta




Zenyatta winning the Lady's Secret Stakes.

Sire Street Cry

Dam Vertigineux

Damsire Kris S.

Sex Mare

Foaled 2004

Country United States

Colour Dark Bay/Brown

Breeder Maverick Production, Limited

Owner Jerry & Ann Moss

Trainer John Shirreffs

Record 19: 19-0-0

Earnings $6,404,580

Major wins

El Encino Stakes (2008)

Apple Blossom Handicap (2008,2010)

Milady Handicap (2008,2009)

Vanity Handicap (2008,2009,2010)

Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (2008,2009,2010)

Lady's Secret Stakes (2008,2009,2010)

Santa Margarita Handicap (2010)





Breeders' Cup wins:

Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (2008)

Breeders' Cup Classic (2009)

Awards

American Champion Older Female Horse

(2008,2009)



Honours

NTRA "Moment of the Year" (2008,2009)

Zenyatta Stakes at Oak Tree

Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

Last updated on August 9, 2010



Zenyatta (foaled April 1, 2004 in Kentucky) is an American champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose nickname is "The Queen". She remains undefeated in her 19 starts. In the 2009 Breeders Cup Classic, she defeated Grade/Group 1 winners in dual champion Gio Ponti, winner of the Arlington Million; European Twice Over; 2009 Belmont Stakes winner and champion Summer Bird; Colonel John; Richard's Kid; 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird; European Rip Van Winkle; Hollywood Gold Cup winner, Awesome Gem; Santa Anita Handicap winner, Einstein; and Girolamo. In her other victories, she has defeated Grade 1 winning females Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, Life Is Sweet, Tough Tiz's Sis, Romance Is Diane, Double Trouble, Sealy Hill, Cocoa Beach, Santa Teresita, Carriage Trail, and Music Note. She has won 19 races from as many starts, 16 of these being Graded stakes races including 13 Grade I events. She is one of only a few undefeated horses in American Thoroughbred racing history, which include Colin and the late "super filly" Personal Ensign.



Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss, she is trained by John Sherriffs and ridden by American "Hall of Fame" jockey Mike Smith. Mike Smith has been her rider in 15 of 19 starts. Jockey David Flores rode Zenyatta in her first three starts. Zenyatta races in the teal and pink colors of Jerry and Ann Moss and her groom is Mario Espinoza. Zenyatta stands 17.2 hands (183 cm) tall, and weighs 1,217 pounds (552 kg).



Contents

1 Breeding and background

2 Early career

3 2007/2008 Season

4 2009 season

5 2010 season

6 Races

7 Pedigree

8 See also

9 References

10 External links



 Breeding and background

Zenyatta was sired by Street Cry, who also sired in the same crop 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, multiple Group 1 Australian 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.



[Early career

Trained by John Shirreffs, California-based Zenyatta did not begin racing until she was 3 years old, making a winning debut in late November 2007 at Hollywood Park. She followed that up with a win in an allowance race at the same track on December 15. She was ridden by David Flores in both races.



 2007/2008 Season

Zenyatta (1) did not make her first start until November of her 3-year-old season. She won 1st time out, a maiden race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the cushion track at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Race 6 on November the 22nd Running time was 1:15.22. She was ridden by David Flores 122Lbs and won by 3 lengths with a purse of 42,000 with Zenyatta earning 25,200. She paid 13.00 to win, 9.20 to place and 6.00 to Show. Her next (2) and last start of 2007, she won a allowance race at 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park Racetrackin Race 5 on December the 15th Running time was 1:40.97. She was ridden by David Flores 119Lbs and won by 3 and 1/2 lengths with a purse of 48,000 with Zenyatta earning 28,800. She paid 4.40 to win, 3.20 to place and 2.80 to Show.



She began her 4-year-old season by winning the Grade 2 El Encino Stakes (3) at Santa Anita Race 9 on January 14, 2008, Purse was 150,000 with Zenyatta earning 90,000. She went 1 mile and 1/16 in 1:40.16 She was ridden by David Flores 116Lbs and won by 3/4 lengths. She paid 4.40 to win, 3.00 to place and 2.40 to Show. In her next outing (4) she won her first Grade 1, the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park Race 8, on April 5, 2008. The victory marked the first of 15 consecutive wins with Mike Smith on board, She went 1 mile 1/16 in 1:42.64. The purse was 500,000 with Zenyatta earning 300,000. Mike Smith carried 116Lbs and won by 4 and 1/2 lengths. She paid 5.60 to win, 3.60 to place and 2.20 to Show. Returning to Hollywood Park Racetrack. , she won the Milady Handicap (5) (Gr 2) on May 31, 2008 in Race 5. She went 1 mile and 1/16 in 1:41.17. She was ridden by Mike Smith 122Lbs and won by 2 and 1/2 lengths. The purse was 175,000 with Zenyatta earning 110,580. She paid 2.60 to win, 2.20 to place and 2.10 to Show. She won the next race (6) in the Vanity Handicap (Gr 1) on July 5, 2008 at Hollywood Park Racetrack. . She went 1 mile and 1/8 in 1:49.51. The Purse was 300,000 with Zenyatta earning 180,000. She was ridden by Mike Smith 124Lbs and won by 1/2 length. She paid 2.60 to win, 2.10 to place and 2.10 to show.



In the Clement L. Hirsch (Gr 2) win at (7)Del Mar on August 2, 2008 in Race 9, Zenyatta set a track record of 1:41.48 for 8.5 furlongs on the new polytrack. The Purse was 300,000 with Zenyatta earning 180,000. She was ridden by Mike E. Smith 124Lbs and won by 1 length. She paid 3.20 to win, 2.40 to place and 2.10 to Show. She then won the (8)Lady's Secret Stakes (Gr 2) at Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park. on September 27, 2008 in Race 5 and in that race 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 1:41.17. She was ridden by Mike Smith 122Lbs and won by 2 and 1/2 lengths. The purse was 175,000 and Zenyatta earned 110,580. She payed 2.60 to win, 2.20 to place and 2.10 to show.



In her final outing of 2008 (9), she was sent off as the 1-2 favorite for the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (Gr 1) at Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park. in Race 7 on October 24 of 2008. Zenyatta traveled at the back of the pack until the final turn, where she made a breath-taking move to capture the lead with 200 yards to go. She posted a 1½ length victory over second-place finisher Cocoa Beach in a time of 1:46.85 at 1 mile and 1/8. She was ridden by Mike Smith 123Lbs and earned 1,080,000 of the 2,000,000 purse. She paid 3.00 to win, 2.60 to place and 2.10 to Show. After Curlin's defeat in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Zenyatta was a strong contender for Horse of the Year. She was awarded the Eclipse Award as American Champion Older Female Horse for 2008.



 2009 season

On May 23, Zenyatta made her much anticipated reappearance, winning the (10) Milady Handicap (Gr 2) at Hollywood Park Racetrack. in Race 8 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. She earned 90,000 of the 150,000 purse. She paid 2.40 to win, 2.10 to place and 2.10 to show. In her next outing (11), on June 27, 2009, she won the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack 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 earned 180,000 of the 300,000 purse and was ridden by Mike Smith. She paid 2.60 to win and 2.10 to place. In 2008, she won the Vanity under 126 pounds.



Her next start was her second Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (12)(now a Gr 1) on August 9, 2009 at Del Mar in Race 8. Coming from last, she was forced to circle the entire field six wide behind a slow pace. She won by a head, although the media frequently incorrectly set the final margin as a nose. She finished the 1 mile and 1/16 in 1:43.24 and was ridden by Mike Smith. She earned 180,000 of the 300,000 purse. She paid 2.40 to win, 2.20 to place and 2.10 to show. On October 10, 2009, she won her second Lady's Secret (13) in her typical come-from-behind fashion. She was ridden by Mike Smith 123Lbs and won by 1 and 1/4 lengths. She earned 180,000 of the 300,000 purse. She paid 2.80 to win, 2.40 to place and 2.10 to show.



On October 28, 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 (14) and the first horse ever to win two different Breeders' Cup races, improving her winning record to 14 out of 14.[1] Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith 123Lbs, 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 mile and 1/4 in 2:00.62 and earned 2,700,000 of the 5,000,000 purse. She paid 7.60 to win, 5.60 to place and 3.80 to show.



After a shaky start Zenyatta trailed the field for most of the race. Jockey Smith said, "At the half-mile pole, I thought, 'Oh God, they're stacked up. There's no way I'm going to get around all these horses.'" And Zenyatta was still ninth, 7 lengths back, at the quarter-pole. But her pace quickened and her stride lengthened, and Smith guided her two paths wide, past five horses before the head of the stretch. Smith then swung Zenyatta outside into the clear. Suddenly, she was even with the leader, Gio Ponti, then in front. With her ears pricked forward, she sprinted to a one length victory. Her official time was 2:00.62. Said fellow trainer Bob Baffert, "What a thrill seeing history being made by Zenyatta. It was the only time in horse racing that I didn't mind getting beat in a big race. And the way she won. I've never seen a crowd so captivated. It felt like a horse winning the third leg of the Triple Crown."



Like Personal Ensign and Colin, Zenyatta is undefeated, and she stands as the all-time female earnings leader in North America.



On November 24, 2009, Santa Anita Park. announced the renaming of the G1 Lady's Secret Stakes, a race Zenyatta won in both 2008 and 2009, after the unbeaten champion.



Zenyatta was the runnerup to tennis player Serena Williams in the voting for the 2009 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. [1]



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 season

On January 16, 2010, it was announced that Zenyatta was not retired, and would race during the 2010 season. [2]



On January 18, 2010, Zenyatta won The Eclipse Award for top Older Female of the 2009 season.[3]



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 Race Track 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 1 1/16 miles $200,000 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. They said that she was healthy but not running in top form.



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 earned $150,000 of the $250,000 purse. Zenyatta ($2.60 win) (2.20 to place) (2.10 to show), assigned 127 pounds and spotting her 7 rivals from 11 to 16 pounds, 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. A $2 win parlay on her 15 races now stood at $15,727.31.



On April 9, 2010, Zenyatta increased her record to 16 for 16 by romping in the Grade I $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. With the win, she tied Cigar, Citation, Ormonde, and Ribot for consecutive victories. She completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.71 and earned $300,000 of the $500,000 purse. She was ridden by Mike Smith under 123 lbs and won by 4 1/4 lengths. She paid 2.10 to win and 2.10 to place.



On June 13, 2010, Zenyatta captured her 17th victory in a row when she won the Grade I $250,000 Vanity Invitation Handicap at Hollywood Park. She was ridden by Mike Smith and carried 129 lbs, spotting her 5 rivals 9 to 17 pounds. She completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.01 and earned $150,000 of the $250,000 purse. There was no show wagering on this event, and the mutuel payouts were 3.00 to win and 2.10 to place. Zenyatta's 17th win broke the record for consecutive victories (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(18) and was ridden by Mike Smith. She finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.03 and earned $180,000 of the $300,000 purse. There was no show wagering on this event, and the mutuel payouts were 2.20 to win and 2.10 to place. Zenyatta's 18th win tied the legendary Eclipse for consecutive victories without defeat (List of Undefeated Thoroughbreds). Zenyatta has also tied the North American record for Grade/Group I victories by a filly/mare. Two-time champion Bayakoa and Zenyatta are tied with 12 Grade/Group I victories each.



On October 2, 2010, Zenyatta tied Peppers Pride for 19 consecutive victories. She won her ninth consecutive Grade/Group I victory and increased her undefeated record to 19-0. Zenyatta (who carried 123 lbs) won her third Lady's Secret Stakes 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. There was no show wagering on this event, and the mutuel payouts were 2.20 to win and 2.10 to place. The victory was worth $150,000 and boosted the dark bay/brown mare's career total to $6,404,580. She broke the female earnings record for horses that have raced in North America of $6,334,296 established by the great Ouija Board, who retired in 2006.



Zenyatta's next race will be the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 6th at Churchill Downs.



Races

Finish Race Distance Jockey Time Margin Grade Runner up Track Notes

Next Race Breeders' Cup Classic 1 1/4 m M E Smith I Churchill Downs

1st Lady's Secret Stakes 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:42.97 1/2 I Switch Oak Tree at Hollywood Park [13]

1st Clement L. Hirsch Handicap 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:45.03 neck I Rinterval Del Mar Race Track [12]

1st Vanity Invitational Handicap 1 1/8 m M E Smith 1:49.01 1/2 I St Trinians Hollywood Park [11]

1st Apple Blossom Invitational Handicap 1 1/8 m M E Smith 1:50.71 4-1/4 I Taptam Oaklawn Park [10]

1st Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap 1 1/8 m M E Smith 1:48.20 1-1/4 I Dance to My Tune Santa Anita Park

1st Breeders' Cup Classic 1 1/4 m M E Smith 2:00.62 1 I Gio Ponti Oak Tree at Santa Anita [9]

1st Lady's Secret Stakes 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:42.89 1-1/4 I Lethal Heat Oak Tree at Santa Anita [8]

1st Clement L. Hirsch Stakes 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:43.24 head I Anabaa's Creation Del Mar Race Track [7]

1st Vanity Handicap 1 1/8 m M E Smith 1:48.15 2-1/2 I Briecat Hollywood Park [6]

1st Milady Handicap 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:42.30 1-3/4 II Life Is Sweet Hollywood Park [5]

1st Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic 1 1/8 m M E Smith 1:46.85 1-1/2 I Cocoa Beach Oak Tree at Santa Anita [4]

1st Lady's Secret Stakes 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:40.30 3-1/2 I Hystericalady Oak Tree at Santa Anita [3]

1st Clement L. Hirsch Handicap 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:41.48 1 II Model Del Mar Race Track [2]

1st Vanity Handicap 1 1/8 m M E Smith 1:49.51 1/2 I Tough Tiz's Sis Hollywood Park

1st Milady Handicap 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:41.17 2-1/2 II Santa Teresita Hollywood Park

1st Apple Blossom Handicap 1 1/16 m M E Smith 1:42.64 4-1/2 I Brownie Points Oaklawn Park

1st El Encino Stakes 1 1/16 m D. Flores 1:40.61 1-3/4 II Tough Tiz's Sis Santa Anita Park [1]

1st Allowance 1 1/16 m D. Flores 1:40.97 3-1/2 None Quite a Stormkat Hollywood Park

1st Maiden 6.5 Furlongs D. Flores 1:15.22 3 None Carmel Coffee Hollywood Park



13.^ Sets the world record with 9 consecutive Grade/Group 1 wins. Ties Pepper's Pride with 19 consecutive victories without defeat. First mare to win this race 3x (consecutive years). Surpasses Ouija Board's $6,334,296 record career earnings by a female thoroughbred.

12.^ Broke the world record with 8 consecutive Grade/Group 1 wins. Ties the legendary Eclipse with 18 consecutive victories without defeat. First mare to win this race 3x (consecutive years).

11.^ 17 wins in 17 starts, setting a new record for consecutive wins. First mare to win this race 3x (consecutive years).

10.^ 16th wins in row. Tying the record set by Cigar and Citation for consecutive victories.

9.^ First filly to win Breeders Cup Classic, First horse to win two different Breeders Cup races

8.^ Tied for most wins

7.^ Tied for most wins

6.^ Tied for most wins

5.^ Tied for most wins

4.^ Stakes record on synthetic race track. Second fastest Breeders Cup Distaff/Ladies Classic.

3.^ Stakes record time (On synthetic dirt)

2.^ New track record (On synthetic dirt)

1.^ Stakes record time

 Pedigree

Pedigree of Zenyatta Sire

Street Cry Machiavellian Mr. Prospector Raise a Native

Gold Digger

Coup de Folie Halo

Raise The Standard

Helen Street Troy Petingo

La Milo

Waterway Riverman

Boulevard

Dam

Vertigineux Kris S. Roberto Hail To Reason

Bramalea

Sharp Queen Princequillo

Bridgework

For The Flag Forli Aristophanes

Trevisa

In The Offing Hoist The Flag

Mrs. Peterkin



 See also

List of notable Thoroughbred racehorses

Repeat winners of horse races

 References

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