Zenyatta wins her record in U.S. horse racing
Zenyatta and Blind Luck employ the same crowd-pleasing, come-from-last-place style with one major difference – Zenyatta always gets to the wire first.
In the Grade 1 – $250,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes on Saturday at Hollywood Park, unbeaten Zenyatta became the first thoroughbred ever to win 19 consecutive races and became the sport’s richest female when she ran down Switch in the final yards for a victory by a half-length. The 1-to-10 favorite, Zenyatta finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.97 and earned $150,000 to increase her total to $6,404,580.
In the Grade 2, $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., Havre de Grace got a big enough jump on Blind Luck to hold her off by a short neck.
- Zenyatta.
Zenyatta made history Saturday, scoring her 19th consecutive victory and equaling the longest winning streak in the modern history of U.S. horse racing. As usual, she didn’t make it look easy.
After trailing her four rivals on the backstretch, she unleashed a surge in the final sixteenth of a mile to catch the pacesetter Switch and win the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Hollywood Park by a half-length. It was typical of the heart-stopping rallies that have defined her career.
Yet after all of her achievements, the 6-year-old mare still has her greatest challenge ahead of her. Her performance Saturday was her final prep for the objective that trainer John Shirreffs has had in his sights all season: the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on November 6. Having made her reputation by running mostly on California’s synthetic surfaces, Zenyatta will be running against males on dirt for the first time. A victory would not only complete her career with a 20-for-20 record, it would cement her place in history as an all-time great – not just a synthetic-track specialist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-fJpTGaPH8
Zenyatta already was heading back to the barn, still undefeated at 19-0 after her patented, thrilling win by half a length. This time it was over Switch in the Lady’s Secret Stakes, and this time, her trainer, John Shirreffs was reminded of unfinished business.
“One more, John, one more,” – a fan yelled from the railing that was still loaded with Zenyatta fans holding signs and yelling above the Hollywood Park winner’s circle. A crowd of 25,837 showed for Zenyatta’s last race in California. It was the biggest crowd at the track since July 1, 2001, Hollywood Gold Cup day.
Shirreffs looked up, and, showing uncharacteristic emotion for a man criticized for his conservative campaign of Zenyatta, raised the index finger of his right hand and yelled, “One more!”