NEWS
Zenyatta remains unbeaten with El Encino win
Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:15 PM
by Jenny Blandford
Zenyatta remained unbeaten with a powerful stretch rally to score a 1 3/4-length win in the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (G2) on Sunday at Santa Anita Park.
A half sister to three-time Grade 1 winner Balance, Zenyatta was making her stakes debut in her third career start for trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss.
The Street Cry (Ire) filly was reserved in last in the field of six four-year-old fillies through a half-mile while Grade 1 winner Tough Tiz’s Sis set the pace, completing an opening quarter in :24.51 with Dawn After Dawn close-up in second. Dawn After Dawn moved up along the rail and overtook Tough Tiz’s Sis to gain a one-length lead through a half-mile in :47.77 and six furlongs in 1:10.58.
Jockey David Flores settled 6-to-5 favorite Zenyatta along the rail on the backstretch, moved three deep on the turn before rallying in deep stretch, passing Tough Tiz’s Sis, Dawn After Dawn, and Romance Is Diane, respectively, under strong urging by Flores and prevailed.
“I really don’t remember riding any other horse that covers so much ground,” Flores said. “She has such a long stride and she does it easy.”
Zenyatta completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.61 on the all-weather Cushion Track surface. Tough Tiz’s Sis held on for second, a nose in front of Grade 1 winner Romance Is Diane.
Shirreffs said the 1 1/8-mile La Canada Stakes (G2) on February 10 at Santa Anita could be next for Zenyatta.
Zenyatta won a 1 1/16-mile allowance race by 3 1/2 lengths on December 15 after capturing her career debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race by three lengths on November 22, both at Hollywood Park.
Zenyatta, who is out of the winning Kris S. mare Vertigineux, boosted her earnings to $144,000.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Jenny Blandford is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor
