by Ron Parker

Jerry and Anne Moss’s Zenyatta extended her record to five wins in as many career starts when she powered home with her customary late charge in the $183,300 Milady Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Heavily favored at odds of 3-to-10, Zenyatta was pinched back at the start before jockey Mike Smith was able to settle her into last place in the five-horse field, which was          reduced from eight by the scratches of Foxysox (GB), Model, and La Tee.

Romance Is Diane took the initiative in the 1 1/16-mile contest over the synthetic Cushion Track surface and set comfortable fractions of :24.74 for the opening quarter and :48.19 for the half-mile before posting 1:11.70 for six furlongs.

Rounding the turn, Zenyatta began moving up on the outside of the field while Romance Is Diane was unable to hold off her closest pursuers. Santa Teresita briefly took the lead only to be confronted by Zenyatta. Santa Teresita put up a game effort, but it was to no avail as Zenyatta drove past her, ridden out for a 2 1/2-length length victory while stopping the teletimer in 1:41.17 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.

Santa Teresita easily held second, 5 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Kris’ Sis.

“Amazing,” jockey Mike Smith said after the victory. “All I can say is just amazing.

“There’s no word in my vocabulary to describe her. She was squeezed at the start and I just didn’t want her to fall. I knew if she stayed up she was going to be tough to beat. On the turn, I just wanted to get her running because she’s so big. She just galloped, man.”

The win marked the third consecutive graded stakes victory for the four-year-old Street Cry (Ire) filly, who annexed the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on April 5 at Oaklawn Park and the El Encino (G2) on January 13 at Santa Anita Park. She won both of her three-year-old starts at Hollywood Park by a combined 6 1/2-lengths.

Zenyatta, has amassed career earnings of $554,580, is out of the Kris S. mare Vertigineux and is a half sister to three-time Grade 1 winner Balance and stakes winner Where’s Bailey.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer