NEWS
Zenyatta phenomenal in Apple Blossom
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010 7:42 PM
ZENYATTA
Shawn Coady/Coady Photography
To watch a video of the Apple Blossom Invitational Stakes, click here.
by Steve Bailey
Any questions about two-time champion older female Zenyatta’s prowess on a dirt surface were answered with a huge exclamation point on Friday at Oaklawn Park.
The six-year-old Street Cry (Ire) mare won her 16th start without a defeat, matching the streaks of Citation, Cigar, Hallowed Dreams, and Mister Frisky as she took over on the turn under jockey Mike Smith and coasted to a 4 1/2-length victory in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational Stakes (G1).
The victory, her sixth consecutive Grade 1 triumph and tenth overall at the highest level, was only her second on a dirt surface, the other coming in a 4½-length victory in the 2008 Apple Blossom. Following this year’s race, the crowd roared its approval as Smith paraded Zenyatta in front of the grandstand.
“She’s amazing; she’s from another planet, I believe,” said Ann Moss, who campaigns Zenyatta with her husband, Jerry. “For her to bring so much joy to so many people is wonderful.”
The connections of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra had pledged to come to the Hot Springs, Arkansas, track to face Zenyatta for the first time in what many were calling the “Race for the Ages,” which would have been worth $5-million had both phenomenal females entered the starting gate.
Following her three-quarter-length loss to Zenyatta’s stablemate Zardana (Brz) in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes on March 13 at Fair Grounds, owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen pulled Rachel Alexandra from consideration for the Apple Blossom, saying that they needed more time to get their filly fit and in top condition to compete.
That left Zenyatta to face a short field of only four challengers in the 1 1/8-mile race, and she did not disappoint the thousands of fans who made the trip to see her in person.
As expected, Smith reserved Zenyatta at the back of the pack out of the gate as Be Fair and Taptam dueled for the lead through slow fractions of :24.07 through a quarter-mile and :48.19 for a half-mile with Zenyatta about eight lengths behind the leaders.
Sensing the dawdling tempo, Smith began moving Zenyatta closer to the pack approaching the far turn and made a sweeping move to the outside approaching the stretch, giving Zenyatta room to run—and run she did.
Zenyatta took command and extended her lead with every long, powerful stride as Smith did little more than steer her to the line. She covered the distance in 1:50.71 on track rated as fast.
“It was just a great trip,” said Smith, who has ridden Zenyatta in 13 of her 16 starts. “She was really on her game today.
“When I asked her [to run], she took off on me; I didn’t need to do anything. Then she just galloped on to the wire. She just ran dynamite.”
Three-time stakes winner Taptam finished second, 1½ lengths in front of Grade 3 winner Be Fair.
With the victory, Zenyatta boosted her career earnings to $5,924,580 in four seasons of racing.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
