Zenyatta! Need We Say More?

by Fran Jurga | 9 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

Horse racing may be in a slump but you would never have known it on Saturday when the world gave a rousing unanimous roar for supermare Zenyatta as she barreled home ahead of the colts in the world's most prestigious stakes race, the 2009 Breeders Cup Classic.

It was her first time against colts. Her first time going the classic distance of a mile-and-a-quarter. But her undefeated race record stands now at fourteen. The grand girl has never been beaten.

Will she be horse of the year? Did Saturday's performance obscure the memory of Rachel Alexandra's stellar races on the east coast this year? Rachel's owners opted to skip the Breeders Cup. Did that leave the door open for Zenyatta to capture the title? She beat the same horses Rachel beat...plus some of the best in Europe and the top male turf horse in the US, Gio Ponti, in one fell swoop.

Many people are late to the Zenyatta party and may not know about some of this horse's quirky behaviors. One delightful one is her habit of pricking her ears forward as she crosses the finish line, as if to make sure she looks great in all the win photos (she does).

But another is that this girl likes to dance. In the paddock and during the post parade, she is famous for doing a little toe-flicking trot that makes me think she might be auditioning for the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, or maybe a second career in the dressage arena (not a chance, big girl, but you can piaffe out in the field in Kentucky with your foals).

California track journalist Mary Forney posted this video of Zenyatta showing off in the paddock before the race on Saturday. Thanks to Mary for making this available!



In case you missed the race, here's the replay. Zenyatta was late out of gate, started on her left lead instead of her right, switched leads, and came from dead last.

Champion California Mare Zenyatta Will Race Against Top Colts in 2009 Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday

Zenyatta, originally uploaded by Rock and Racehorses.

She's not just out to win the Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday. She's not just out to prove she's faster than the fastest colts in the world. She's making a grandstand play to capture the title of Horse of the Year. And she's going to do it by racing against the ghost of her biggest competition...who's not even in the race.

The stars are lined up for a great moment in Thoroughbred racing at California's Santa Anita racetrack. It's time for the 2009 Breeders Cup, the World Series, Superbowl, and Indy500 of American horse racing, spread across two days, two racing surfaces, two television networks and the fates of some super horses.

Undefeated Zenyatta declared today that she will bypass a chance for a repeat win of the Fillies and Mares Classic and go after the colts in the high-stakes mile-and-a-quarter Breeders Cup Classic. That means facing Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who will come from behind with her, no doubt, and Belmont/Travers/Jockey Gold Cup winner Summer Bird, along with Rip Van Winkle, one of the best in Europe, and long-striding speedster Quality Road...among others.

This will mean two firsts for the big black supermare: first time against colts and first time going a mile and one quarter. And yet, she's the favorite with oddsmakers.

Most of those American colts have already been beaten by the red-hot three-year-old filly on the east coast, Rachel Alexandra. But her owners are bypassing the Breeders Cup, partly to give her a rest and partly out of distaste for the artificial surface--which is about all Zenyatta has ever run on. And never lost.

If Zenyatta loses, surely Horse of the Year remains Rachel Alexandra's. But if Zenyatta wins?

Some people like Coke. Some like Pepsi. Some people work on a PC. Some love their Macs. The Internet is clogged with fans of each horse declaring supremacy.

I'm just savoring them both, and the moment. This is as good as it gets. And she may be as good as they come. We'll soon find out.

Note: The Breeders Cup will be on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC at different times on Friday and Saturday. Approximate post time for the Classic on Saturday is 6:45 p.m. EST. Check your local listings to be sure. I believe that you can sign up at ESPN360.com and watch it streaming on the web, as well. At least that's what I'm hoping!

Thanks to Sarah K. Andrew of Rock and Racehorses--who is at the Breeders Cup!--for this photo of Zenyatta as she prepped for the Breeders Cup last year.

What's Rachel Alexandra Got that Zenyatta Doesn't?

Zenyatta, winning the Grade 1 Vanity at Hollywood Park in June, originally uploaded by Jeff (aka crystaldiamondk2).

We may never know the answer to that question, but that's ok. You can only shake your head: Greatness in stereo, on both coasts of the USA, as the racing year prepares to wrap up after being dominated by these two stellar mares.

Undefeated California mare Zenyatta did it again on Saturday, making it 13 in a row with a strong victory in the Grade 1 Lady's Secret at Santa Anita, as she prepares for her run in the 2009 Breeders Cup next month. Will she defend her title against the fillies and mares or dare to run in the Classic against the likes of Belmont, Travers and Jockey Gold Cup winner Summer Bird and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird? (And maybe even Euro superstars Rip Van Winkle and Sea the Stars!)

Meanwhile, three-year-old superstar Rachel Alexandra is resting at Kentucky's Churchill Downs after beating all comers of all ages at tracks in New York, New Jersey, and Kentucky this summer. Her owner is no fan of the racing surface at Santa Anita, and won't send her west to run on it, so we won't see Zenyatta race against Rachel Alexandra.

Zenyatta reminds me of a super-engineered German touring car, built for speed and precision and power. Rachel Alexandra reminds me of an Italian sports car, all light and lines and synchronicity.

I am an unabashed fan of both, and love what each has done for racing, although I don't see why people seem to feel that they have to choose between one or the other. Given the short shelf life of racehorses, enjoy these two superstars while you can!

Speaking of shelf life, a racehorse's may be short, but we all know what improves with age, and there is one thing that Rachel Alexandra has that Zenyatta does not (at least that I have heard about)...and that is her own line of wines.

Since the holidays are coming and I know the supply is very limited, I thought I would mention that if you have a special person or corporate connection on your gift list who is a racing fan, a gift of a bottle of the limited edition Rachel Alexandra wines from Kendall-Jackson wineries (owner Jess Jackson of Kendall-Jackson is part owner of Rachel Alexandra) would be the ultimate gift.

This is not an ad. It is the simple truth, and it's great marketing. A boxed bottle signed by jockey Calvin Borel is $150; a plain old bottle with that beautiful filly's face on it is $50.

The wine is a 2007 vintage pinot noir, sourced from the winery’s Arroyo Seco vineyard in Monterey County, California.

The kj.com web page also features the Kendall-Jackson/Rachel Alexandra Running Auction, a five-month-long charity auction featuring sports items from Rachel Alexandra’s already-historic three-year-old racing season. All of the proceeds from the auction benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Currently up for auction is Calvin Borel's victory crop, with bidding at $1500. Auctioning of Rachel's collectibles this fall has raised almost $12,000 for The V Foundation.

Rachel may be done running for the year but her team is obviously still active. Now all eyes are on Zenyatta--and she's an eyeful! Thanks to Jeff for the loan of this great photo of Zenyatta in mid-air.