Starlet Series: Zenyatta, Part II

Starlet Series
Number 1, part II: Zenyatta

Joseph Di Rienzi

This is a continuation of the final entry in my series on the careers of the six best female thoroughbred horses I have observed racing in the years 1959 to the present. This issue concludes the racing campaign of the top ranked Zenyatta.

At the beginning of 2010 excitement in the thoroughbred racing community centered on an anticipated meeting between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. These two mighty females were both undefeated in 2009, and there was much speculation as to who was superior. Recall that Zenyatta’s owners, Ann and Jerry Moss, specifically kept their six year-old in training because they believed Zenyatta, after her dramatic victory in the Breeder’s Cup Classic, should have been voted Horse of the Year instead of Rachel Alexandra. The venue for this meeting could not be in California in that Rachel Alexandra’s connections would not race her on a synthetic surface. Oaklawn Park proposed the Apple Blossom Invitational Stakes in mid-April with an augmented purse of $5 million if both Zenyatta and “Rachel” were entered. The track also extended the distance to 9 furlongs. Both starlets had raced successfully at Oaklawn, and, after some negotiation, both camps appeared positive about facing each other.

Both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra appeared in “prep” races on March 13. Rachel ran in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes, a race created for her at the Fair Grounds Racetrack. She was shockingly defeated by a horse whose first name started with the letter “Z” trained by Zenyatta’s conditioner, John Shirreffs.  Owned by Arnold Zetcher, Zardana was a moderately successful six year-old mare that in her career had won stakes races in both her native Brazil and the U. S.  In the Ladies Stakes, Rachel Alexandra, at odds 1-9 cruised to the lead around the final turn but could not fight off the challenge of Zardana in the stretch, losing by ¾ of a length. At Santa Anita, Zenyatta was trying to extend her unbeaten streak to 15 in the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap. Carrying 127 lb., she delighted her fans with Zenyatta’s now characteristic dance before a race and thrilled them with another seemingly effortless victory after appearing trapped between horses in the stretch.

In the aftermath of these races, Rachel Alexandra’s connections announced she was not fit enough to run in the Apple Blossom, so Oaklawn officials reduced the purse to its usual $500,000 and celebrated the return of Zenyatta who had won the race in 2008. Facing four hopelessly over matched rivals, the super mare again idled in last place until the final turn and then swept, without much urging, to the lead at the top of the stretch, cantering home by 4¼ lengths.

After her surprise defeat in New Orleans, Rachel Alexandra ran next on Kentucky Oaks Day in the La Troienne Stakes. Again she was heavily favored and again she was beaten, this time by a head to Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso’s Unrivaled Belle. Seemingly “righting the ship”, Rachel Alexandra stayed at Churchill Downs for her next race and ran away with the Fleur de Lis Handicap winning by 10½ lengths. With this victory, reminiscent of her wins last year in the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose Stakes, Rachel appeared back on track for the long anticipated rendezvous with Zenyatta, perhaps in the Breeders’ Cup Classic which this year would be held on conventional dirt at Churchill Downs. 

Zenyatta competed the day after Rachel Alexandra’s Fleur de Lis triumph in the Vanity Handicap. Seeking a repeat victory, the great mare carried a career high impost of 129 lb. She faced a sharp rival in St Trinians (carrying 120 lb.), as well as Rachel Alexandra’s conqueror, Zardana (at 118 lb.). Running her typical race from last, Zenyatta needed nearly all of the Hollywood Park stretch to prevail by a ½ length over St Trinians who had also rallied from the back. Zardana was 6 lengths further back in third. With this victory Zenyatta extended her unbeaten streak to 17.

Continuing what amounted to her farewell tour on the West Coast, Zenyatta competed in two more races, in both cases cutting the winning margin very close. In the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, she overcame a glacial early pace to gain the lead at the top of the stretch (much earlier than usual), and then just held a neck margin over Rinterval to the finish. In the Lady’s Secret Stakes, which she was winning for the third time, she faced Switch who had previously won the Hollywood Oaks. Mike Smith bided his time till the top of the stretch to call upon his mare. However, Switch, after gaining the lead, spurted clear, and for a few seconds there was some doubt as to whether Zenyatta would be able to run her down. But once the champion leveled out to her enormous strides, she closed the gap quickly and at the wire she was a ½ length ahead. This win in her last race in California was an emotional event for all at the racetrack. Particularly poignant was that Penny Chenery, most closely associated with the immortal Secretariat, was there to present the Lady’s Secret winner’s trophy to Ann and Jerry Moss. 

Zenyatta, now 19 for 19, was headed for Churchill Downs to try a repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. There would be no match against Rachel Alexandra. After being upset at Saratoga in the Personal Ensign Stakes to Phipps Stable’s Persistently, Rachel’s owner Jess Jackson announced suddenly in September that Rachel Alexandra would be retired, not due to an injury, but because she had not been able to replicate her 2009 form.

As darkness rolled in on November 6, the stage was set for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Zenyatta was the defending champion, but there were many who doubted she would be able to repeat. They cited that this Classic was on conventional dirt (ignoring the fact she had won the Apple Blossom twice over Oaklawn Park’s dirt surface). They also questioned the quality of the females she had been narrowly defeating all year, while in the Classic she would be facing horses such as Quality Road (back this time for another try), Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider’s top four year-old Blame, Preakness Stakes victor Lookin At Lucky, and Jockey Gold Cup hero, Haynesfield. (The critics seemed to forget that Zenyatta defeated a top class international group of horses in last year’s Classic.) Lastly, they pointed that her speed figures were not as high as her Classic rivals’ figures, again not realizing that a come from behind horse such as Zenyatta was only racing fast enough to catch the front runners.

The betting public, ignoring these negatives, installed Zenyatta the even money favorite with sophomore Lookin At Lucky the narrow second choice over Blame. In a race that is etched forever in Breeders’ Cup history, Zenyatta broke slowly in the twelve horse field and found herself last, several lengths behind the eleventh place horse. Down the backstretch, First Dude set the pace with Quality Road, Japanese raced Espoir City, and Haynesfield tracking. In the next group some 4 lengths behind was Looking At Lucky with Blame alongside saving ground under Garrett Gomez, while Zenyatta was still, seemingly languishing, in last place. Around the far turn, the field started bunching up as Quality Road dropped back suddenly and Lookin At Lucky and Blame launched their bid side by side between horses. Meanwhile, Mike Smith took Zenyatta first to the inside around the far turn and then swung her wide for clear running room. In mid-stretch, Blame was pulling clear from Lookin At Lucky with Zenyatta looming on the outside some lengths away. At first, it looked impossible she would be able to run Blame down, then it seemed likely, but in the end, Blame was able to hold off Zenyatta’s charge by a desperate head. Fly Down closed ground to be third, 3½ lengths back with Lookin At Lucky a neck back in fourth while Quality Road retreated to last place.

2010 Breeders' Cup Classic
nytimes.com

The crowd was numb from the dramatic finish, thrilled and sad at the same time. Claiborne Farm’s President Seth Hancock, co-owner of Blame, was quoted as saying, “I’m proud to win the race, but I take no pride in beating Zenyatta. She is awesome, and she’s been great for racing.” Blame deserved the win, but Zenyatta was magnificent in defeat. The day after the Classic, hundreds of fans came to the fence as Zenyatta grazed outside her Churchill Downs barn to pay tribute and present gifts to this magnificent animal even more revered in defeat than in victory.

For the Eclipse Awards, Blame was the Champion Older Male Horse and Zenyatta the corresponding Female. In a contentious voting, Zenyatta outpolled Blame for Horse of the Year. She was retired with a record of 19 wins and 1 second in 20 starts.

At Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, Zenyatta has not had much success as a broodmare. Her first two foals were winless on the racetrack. Her third and fourth offspring died within their first year, and, Zenyatta aborted her fifth foal. However, in 2018 she gave birth to a filly by prominent sire Medaglia d’Oro. Whatever future her progeny forge, Zenyatta’s immortality is intact. Her statuesque presence in repose, her dancing feet before a race, and her thrilling stretch charges remain part of thoroughbred racing’s folklore as one of the greatest horses this country has ever seen.