For a video replay of the Vanity Handicap, click here.

by Myra Lewyn

The comparisons and speculation began soon after the finish of the $287,000 Vanity Handicap (G1) on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Who is the nation’s best female in training, classic winner Rachel Alexandra or unbeaten champion Zenyatta? And when might the two possibly meet in a race?

After BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra posted a visually impressive victory in the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) in stakes-record time on Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park, Zenyatta took the stage across the country a few minutes later in the Vanity and kept her perfect record intact with a clear win while leaving racing fans longing for a showdown.

Shouldering a career-high weight assignment of 129 pounds, Zenyatta gave from 13 to 16 pounds to her five opponents. But the weight did not matter once she got rolling in the stretch. The five-year-old Street Cry (Ire) mare, the overwhelming 3-to-10 favorite, easily dispatched pacesetter Briecat and Dawn After Dawn in the final sixteenth under Mike Smith and the result was decided in a few authoritative strides.

Zenyatta powered clear to win by 2½ lengths and covered the Vanity’s 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.15 on the synthetic Cushion Track surface for a repeat victory in the race. She carried 124 pounds when she won the Vanity by a half-length last year en route to the Eclipse Award as champion older female.

The last horse to win the Vanity with as high an assignment was champion Cascapedia, who carried 129 pounds in 1977. Gamely won under 131 pounds in 1968, and Silver Spoon won under 130 in ‘60.

Zenyatta carried 126 pounds when she rallied from last to first and overpowered Grade 1-winning stablemate Life Is Sweet to win the Milady Handicap (G1) by 1 3/4 lengths on May 23.

Trainer John Shirreffs was confident in Zenyatta, despite the weight disparity in the Vanity.

“She’s a big, strong horse, and obviously we weren’t afraid of the extra three pounds,” Shirreffs said. “She’s a champion and that’s what champions do. You can’t run from it; embrace it.”

Zenyatta settled off the rail in fifth while Briecat opened a clear early lead and set moderate fractions through six furlongs in 1:11.28. Advancing on the far turn, Zenyatta was angled three wide by Smith leaving the turn as Dawn After Dawn overhauled Briecat and led by a half-length in early stretch. 

Momentarily, the weight appeared as if it might be a burden, but with left-handed urging from Smith, Zenyatta lengthened her stride and powered away for the win.

“She was very steady throughout the race,” Shirreffs said. “Mike said he timed his ride. He didn’t want to move too soon. He didn’t want to try to open up. I thought that she responded to everything he asked of her. As we all know, when they step into the starting gate, anything can happen.

“Confidence is kind of a funny expression to use in horse racing. She has one of the best closing kicks in any horse I’ve been around. If she’s close, then she has a chance.”

Briecat battled back to take second, three-quarters of a length in front of Dawn After Dawn.

Kentucky-bred Zenyatta was unbeaten in seven starts last season, all in graded stakes. She amassed Grade 1 victories last year in the Vanity and Apple Blossom (G1) Handicaps as well as the Lady’s Secret Stakes (G1) before closing her season with a 1 1/2-length score in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) to cement divisional honors. Out of the Kris S. mare Vertigineux, her career bankroll increased to $2,414,580.

Jess Jackson, co-owner of Rachel Alexandra, has said that his filly would not race on a synthetic surface and that Zenyatta would have to travel east for any race between the two.

Owner Jerry Moss said he was opened to the possibility of meeting Rachel Alexandra.

“Hopefully, we will meet somewhere,” Moss said. “If not the Breeders’ Cup [on the synthetic surface at Santa Anita Park in November], maybe it will be somewhere else. I think time will tell on something like that, and we will go from there.”

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor